Method for encoding and decoding data

A method for encoding data, comprising the following steps:

• receiving a datum representing a numerical value from a predefined maximum value range;
• selecting a suitable encoding rule for the datum from at least a first predefined encoding rule and a second predefined encoding rule, wherein:
• the first encoding rule is provided for encoding a first value range whose lower limit corresponds to a lower limit of the maximum value range and whose upper limit corresponds to a binary number that is at least one binary position smaller than a binary number used for a binary representation of an upper limit of the maximum value range,
• the second encoding rule is provided for encoding a second value range whose lower limit corresponds to a binary number that is at least one binary position larger than a binary number used for a binary representation of the lower limit of the maximum value range, and whose upper limit corresponds to the upper limit of the maximum value range,
• an encoding rule of the first and second encoding rules whose value range contains the numerical value of the datum is selected, wherein, in a case in which the numerical value is contained in the first and second value ranges of a plurality of the first and second encoding rules, the encoding rule that has the smallest lower value range limit is selected,
• encoding the numerical value of the datum based on the selected encoding rule including:
• omitting all binary positions of the numerical value of the datum considered as a binary number that are of lower significance than a binary position used for the binary representation of the lower limit of the value range of the selected encoding rule, and
• omitting all binary positions of the numerical value of the datum considered as a binary number that are of higher significance than the binary position used for a binary representation of the upper limit of the value range of the selected encoding rule;
• and
• extending a binary number of the encoded numerical value at a predefined position by predefined encoding information, which uniquely identifies the selected encoding rule used in each case.

A method for decoding data, comprising the following steps:

• receiving a datum including an encoded numerical value and encoding information corresponding to the encoded numerical value;
• selecting, depending on the encoding information, a predefined decoding rule for decoding the encoded numerical value from at least a first predefined decoding rule and a second predefined decoding rule;
• shifting the encoded numerical value considered as a binary number in a direction of binary positions of higher significance by a number of binary positions defined by the selected decoding rule, to generate a decoded binary number;
• wherein
• the decoded binary number has a predefined number of target binary positions that is at least large enough that a predefined maximum value range used in the encoding of the numerical value can be represented by the decoded binary number, and
• binary positions of the decoded binary number:
• that are of higher significance than a highest binary position occupied by the shifted binary number are assigned values of zero, and
• that are of lower significance than a lowest binary position occupied by the shifted binary number are assigned predefined replacement values.