METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA COMPRESSION

摘要

The present invention generally relates to a data compression system (24, 66) comprising an array of memory cells (30, 80) defining a look-ahead buffer (32, 82) containing one or more unprocessed data elements and a history buffer (34, 84), a comparator array unit (40, 100) comparing input data in the array of memory cells (30, 80) and unprocessed data elements in the look-ahead buffer (32, 82), and a control unit (52, 116) determining from the comparison whether or not a match between the unprocessed data elements and the input data exists. The data compression system (24, 66) performs continuous supply to the network of output data constituted by compressed data provided the control unit has identified a match and constituted by parts of or all of the unprocessed data elements provided the control unit has identified a no-match. Thus the data compression system (24, 66) establishes a continuous transmission of output data on the network while concurrently performing compression of input data (Fig. 2).