Patent ID: 7515632

Claim:
A method of compressing pixel color values of a serial video stream into corresponding payloads of a fixed-bit payload length p, the pixel color values defined by red, green and blue components that in combination define an available number of different pixel color options, comprising: reducing the available number of different pixel color options by: grouping predetermined intensities of the red, green and blue components into n number of intensity zones such that a number y of possible unique red, green and blue component combinations are available including n number of gray values naturally created when said red, green and blue components are all in the same said intensity zones as each other, and; adding an extra number of gray values g other than said n number of gray values naturally created, so a total number of available different gray values is greater than the n number of gray values that are naturally created when said red, green and blue components are all in the same said intensity zones as each other and such that a sum of y and g is sufficiently small such that the number y of possible unique red, green and blue component combinations and the extra number of gray values g can each be uniquely encoded in one fixed-bit payload length p; and encoding in an encoder information associated with the pixel color values of the serial video steam using the reduced number of different pixel color options and the extra number of gray values.