Bi-directional data stream decompression

Abstract

Described herein is a method of decompressing a compressed data stream from a data buffer. The compressed data stream is of a type having a plurality of compressed segments in a normal sequence, wherein each segment has a control element that specifies the length or number of following data elements. The method includes a step of reading the segments in their normal sequence from the data buffer. After reading a particular segment, its control element and data elements are reversed in order, and then rewritten to the data buffer in the original location of the segment. After reading and re-writing a plurality of the segments, the direction of reading can be reversed. That is, the segments can be read in reverse sequence. Because of the re-writing step, however, control elements will be read before data elements, thus enabling decompression even in the reverse direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.