Parallel processing of data having data dependencies for accelerating the launch and performance of operating systems and other computing applications

A processor-implemented method for parallel decompression of a first compressed file, the first compressed file comprising a plurality of compressed blocks having independent data and dependent, run length encoded (“RLE”) data having data-dependent references spanning one or more compressed blocks of the plurality of compressed blocks, the method comprising:

• using one or more processors or processor cores, identifying a start or an end of each compressed block of the plurality of compressed blocks;
• using the one or more processors or processor cores, partially decompressing a selected compressed block, of the plurality of compressed blocks, into the independent data, the dependent RLE data, and any linked dependent RLE data;
• and
• using the one or more processors or processor cores, sequencing the independent data, the dependent RLE data, and any linked dependent RLE data from a plurality of partial decompressions of the plurality of compressed blocks, obtaining data specified by the dependent RLE data and any linked dependent RLE data, and inserting the obtained data into an uncompressed data file.

An apparatus for parallel decompression of a compressed file, the compressed file comprising a plurality of compressed blocks having independent data and dependent, run length encoded (“RLE”) data having data-dependent references spanning one or more compressed blocks of the plurality of compressed blocks, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory circuit;
• and
• a plurality of processors or processor cores, at least one processor or processor core of the plurality of processors or processor cores configured to identify a start or an end of a selected compressed block of the plurality of compressed blocks;
• at least one processor or processor core of the plurality of processors or processor cores configured to partially decompress a selected compressed block, of the plurality of compressed blocks, into the independent data, the dependent RLE data, and linked dependent RLE data;
• at least one processor or processor core of the plurality of processors or processor cores configured to sequence the independent data, the dependent RLE data, and the linked dependent RLE data from a plurality of partial decompressions of the plurality of compressed blocks;
• at least one processor or processor core of the plurality of processors or processor cores configured to obtain data specified by the dependent RLE data and linked dependent RLE data;
• and at least one processor or processor core of the plurality of processors or processor cores configured to insert the obtained data into an uncompressed data file.