Method for providing an improved run-length encoding algorithm for data compression

摘要

The present invention provides an improved method for encoding a plurality of bit sequences. The present invention includes reading a bit sequence; determining a minimum number of bits for a repeat factor for the bit sequence, where the minimum number of bits is variable; and encoding the bit sequence using the repeat factor. The method provides an improved run-length encoding algorithm by using a strategy where the number of bits used to represent the repeat factor (RF) varies for each individual sequence of equal-valued bits. Rather than conventionally representing the RF by any predetermined and fixed number of bits, the RF of the present invention is represented by the minimum number of bits to binary-encode that repeat factor as an unsigned integer. The RF for each individual bit sequence is represented using only the minimum number of bits necessary, regardless of any previous or following RF.