Patent ID: 8207875

Claim:
A method of digitally encoding information comprising: dividing a block of digital information to be encoded into a plurality of sub-parts; determining a priority based ordering for said plurality of sub-parts and processing said plurality of sub-parts in order according to said priority based ordering; for each K TH sub-part of at least a sub-set of said plurality of sub-parts: determining an initial bit allocation for representing said K TH sub-part; determining a first feasible number of bits that is not equal to said initial bit allocation and that can actually be used to represent said K TH sub-part in a first coding scheme; determining a residual number of bits that is based, at least in part, on said initial bit allocation and said first feasible number of bits; re-allocating bits among said K TH sub-part and sub-parts beyond said K TH sub-part in said priority based ordering in order adjust said initial bit allocation of said K TH sub-part to said first feasible number of bits; and encoding said K TH sub-part using, at least, said first coding scheme to produce a K TH first type code.