Encoder, decoder and method

An encoder for encoding source data to generate corresponding encoded data, wherein the source data includes at least one of:

• audio data, image data, video data, graphics data, multi-dimensional data, and measurement data, wherein the encoder comprises:
• first data processing hardware for matching one or more portions of the source data to one or more elements in one or more databases, using reference values to determine matches, wherein the one or more elements are representative of corresponding one or more data blocks, and recording a plurality of selected databases and the reference values which relate the one or more portions of the source data to the one or more matched elements;
• and
• second data processing hardware for including the reference values in the encoded data together with the plurality of selected databases and/or information identifying the plurality of selected databases as well as a selection of one or more encoding methods employed to generate the encoded data, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• wherein the encoder is operable:
• to receive the source data in the form of one or more data blocks, divide at least a part of the source data into areas having a unique area identifier, wherein the one or more areas contain the one or more portions of the source data depending on the part of the source data divided;
• to take area-specific samples of the source data from the areas using one or more sampling approaches and compute corresponding reference values on a basis of the area-specific samples;
• to check whether or not the one or more areas of the source data corresponding to the reference values obtained from computations applied to the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases or transmitted, and
• to transmit the reference values, or the reference values in a compressed state, for uniquely identifying database elements into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases, or
• to transmit the encoded and/or unencoded source data into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have not been previously stored in the one or more databases.

A method of decoding encoded data to generate corresponding decoded output data, wherein the method of decoding includes:

• receiving the encoded data including reference values and information regarding area identifiers and information regarding a plurality of selected databases, and a selection of one or more encoding methods used, wherein the encoded data is encoded by one or more encoding techniques, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• decoding from the encoded data the reference values;
• accessing one or more elements from the plurality of selected databases as directed by the reference values, wherein the one or more elements are representative of one or more corresponding data blocks;
• and
• assembling the one or more corresponding data blocks of the one or more elements accessed to provide data for use in generating the decoded output data.

A decoder for decoding encoded data to generate corresponding decoded data, wherein the decoder includes:

• first data processing hardware for receiving the encoded data including reference values and information regarding area identifiers and information regarding a plurality of selected databases and a selection of one or more encoding methods used, wherein the encoded data is encoded by one or more encoding techniques, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• second data processing hardware for decoding from the encoded data the reference values;
• third data processing hardware for accessing one or more elements from the plurality selected databases as directed by the reference values, wherein the one or more elements are representative of one or more corresponding data blocks;
• and
• fourth data processing hardware for assembling the one or more corresponding data blocks of the one or more elements accessed to provide data for use in generating decoded output data.

A codec including at least one encoder for encoding source data to generate corresponding encoded data, the encoder comprising:

• first data processing hardware for matching one or more portions of the source data to one or more elements in one or more databases, using reference values to determine matches, wherein the one or more elements are representative of corresponding one or more data blocks, and recording a plurality of selected databases and the reference values which relate the one or more portions of the source data to the one or more matched elements, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• and
• second data processing hardware for including the reference values in the encoded data together with the plurality of selected databases and/or information identifying the plurality of selected databases as well as a selection of one or more encoding methods employed to generate the encoded data;
• wherein the encoder is operable:
• to receive the source data in the form of one or more data blocks, divide at least a part of the source data into areas having a unique area identifier, wherein the one or more areas contain the one or more portions of the source data depending on the part of the source data divided;
• to take area-specific samples of the source data from the areas using one or more sampling approaches and compute corresponding reference values on a basis of the area-specific samples;
• to check whether or not the one or more areas of the source data corresponding to the reference values obtained from computations applied to the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases or transmitted, and to
• transmit the reference values, or the reference values in a compressed state, for uniquely identifying database elements into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases, or
• to transmit the encoded and/or unencoded source data into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have not been previously stored in the one or more databases, and
• at least one decoder receiving the encoded data and for decoding the encoded data to generate corresponding decoded data, the decoder comprising:
• third data processing hardware for receiving encoded data including reference values and information regarding area identifiers and information regarding plurality of selected databases as well as a selection of one or more encoding methods used;
• fourth data processing hardware for decoding from the encoded data the reference values;
• fifth data processing hardware for accessing one or more elements from the plurality of selected databases as directed by the reference values, wherein the one or more elements are representative of one or more corresponding data blocks;
• and
• sixth data processing hardware for assembling the one or more corresponding data blocks of the one or more elements accessed to provide data for use in generating decoded output data.

A software product recorded on non-transitory machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable on computing hardware of an encoder for implementing the method comprising:

• matching one or more portions of the source data to one or more elements in one or more databases, using reference values to determine matches, wherein the one or more elements are representative of corresponding one or more data blocks, and recording a plurality of selected databases and the reference values which relate the one or more portions of the source data to the one or more matched elements, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• and
• including the reference values in the encoded data together with the plurality of selected databases and/or information identifying the plurality of selected databases as well as a selection of one or more encoding methods employed to generate the encoded data;
• dividing at least a part of the source data into one or more areas having a unique area identifier, wherein the one or more areas contain the one or more portions of the source data depending on the part of the source data divided;
• taking area-specific samples of the source data from the areas using one or more sampling approaches and computing corresponding reference values on a basis of the area-specific samples;
• checking whether or not the one or more areas of the source data corresponding to the reference values obtained from computations applied to the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases or transmitted, and
• transmitting the reference values, or the reference values in a compressed state, for uniquely identifying database elements into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have already been stored in the one or more databases, or
• transmitting the encoded and/or unencoded source data into the encoded data when the one or more areas of the source data have not been previously stored in the one or more databases.

A software product recorded on non-transitory machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable on computing hardware of a decoder for implementing the method comprising:

• receiving encoded data including reference values and information regarding area identifiers and information regarding a plurality of selected databases and a selection of one or more encoding methods used, wherein the encoded data is encoded by one or more encoding techniques, wherein the plurality of selected databases simultaneously include one or more static databases and one or more dynamic databases used in encoding the source data;
• decoding from the encoded data the reference values;
• accessing one or more elements from the plurality of selected databases as directed by the reference values, wherein the one or more elements are representative of one or more corresponding data blocks;
• and
• assembling the one or more corresponding data blocks of the one or more elements accessed to provide data for use in generating decoded output data.