Data compression with pipeline processor having separate memories

The method of receiving an incoming data stream and converting the data stream into an ordered storage array from which the incoming data stream may be reconstructed, comprising the steps of:

• providing an ordered sequence of memory levels and a plurality of processing means, each being associated with a different memory level;
• receiving at each processing means input signals from a processing means associated with a lower memory level;
• storing at each memory level certain sequences of elements detected in its input signal;
• generating output signals to the processing element associated with each sequentially higher memory level using a reversible algorithm which converts a plurality of sequential elements in its input stream into a signal element in its output signal;
• and, at each processing means other than the processing means associated with the first level:
• detecting and storing in its associated memory only previously non-occurring sequences of storage elements occurring in its input stream, so that each memory level stores a unique sequence of incoming elements in only a single location.

The method of receiving an incoming digital data stream and converting it into an ordered structure of entries in a digital memory from which the incoming data stream may be reconstructed, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of sequentially ordered means for analyzing incoming sequences of elements in said input stream;
• storing at least certain previously non-occurring sequences of such elements as entries in said digital memory;
• generating an output signal representative of the storage location in said digital memory of at least certain incoming sequences of elements, the output signals for each means in the plurality having fewer elements than the incoming sequence;
• wherein the first such means for analyzing in the order receiving said incoming data stream as its incoming sequence and the subsequent such means for analyzing receiving the output signals from a lower such means in the order representing storage locations and providing their output, representing only storage locations, signals to higher such means in the order.