Method Of And Apparatus For Encoding Data

An apparatus for encoding a set of texture data elements to be used for graphics processing, comprising:

• a processor for encoding the set of texture data elements as a block of texture data;
• a processor for including in the texture data block data indicating how to generate a set of data values to be used for the texture elements that the block represents;
• and
• a processor for including in the texture data block data indicating a method to be used to generate the data value for each texture element that the block represents using the set of data values generated for the block.

An apparatus for decoding a texture data block that encodes a set of texture data elements to be used for graphics processing, comprising:

• a processor for determining from the texture data block how to generate a set of data values to be used for the texture elements that the block represents;
• a processor for generating a set of data values to be used for the texture elements that the block represents on the basis of that determination;
• a processor for determining from the texture data block a method to be used to generate the data value for each texture element that the block represents using the generated set of data values for the block;
• and
• a processor for generating a data value for each texture element that the block represents using the set of data values generated for the block and the determined method to be used to generate the data value for each texture element.

A method of encoding a set of texture data elements to be used for graphics processing, comprising:

• encoding the set of texture data elements as a block of texture data;
• and
• including in the texture data block:
• data indicating how to generate a set of data values to be used for the texture data elements that the block represents;
• and
• data indicating a method to be used to generate the data value for each texture data element that the block represents using the generated set of data values for the block.