Patent ID: 6054943
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
A method for encoding a variable-length, multilevel sequence of source symbols into a fixed-length codeword block comprising the steps of:a) making a random walk in Pascal's hypervolume, starting at the apex, every step of which is determined by the levels of the incoming source symbols, andb) computing a running sum in the process of said random walk, andc) constructing a boundary in said Pascal's hypervolume, andd) terminating said random walk at a point on said boundary, ande) encoding said running sum in a codeword, andf) encoding information in said codeword determining the point in said Pascal's hypervolume at which said random walk terminatedwhereby the source symbol sequence will be compressed by a compression ratio equal to the length of the source symbol sequence divided by the length of the codeword block when both are expressed in the same units.