Method and apparatus for data compression of network packets

A method of transmitting a communications stream between a sending location and a receiving location across a communications channel, the method comprising:

• dividing the communications stream into a plurality of packets;
• identifying a respective packet history state for particular ones of the packets as a function of a first acknowledgement vector, the first acknowledgement vector being received by the sending location from the receiving location;
• encoding the particular ones of the packets as a function of the respective packet history associated therewith, each such packet having a packet header associated therewith, the packet header including at least a history vector which identifies the respective packet history state of the packet;
• compressing the plurality of packets into a compressed data stream;
• and
• transmitting, across the communications channel, the compressed data stream from the sending location to the receiving location.

A method of recovering data from a compressed data stream, the method comprising:

• receiving the compressed data stream, the compressed data stream including a plurality of encoded packets;
• identifying a respective history state associated with particular ones of the encoded packets;
• and
• decompressing the compressed data stream to recover the data;
• the particular ones of the encoded packets being decompressed as a function of the respective packet history associated therewith.

A data communications apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a data stream for transmission by the apparatus, the data stream comprising a plurality of packets;
• a encoder for identifying a plurality of packet history states as a function of at least one acknowledgement vector, each packet history state being associated with a respective one of the packets, and for encoding the plurality packets as a function of the plurality of history states;
• and
• a compressor for compressing the packets into a compressed data stream.

An apparatus for processing a compressed digital signal, the compressed digital signal being produced by, dividing an input stream of digital data into a plurality of packets;

• identifying a respective packet history state for particular ones of the packets as a function of at least one acknowledgement vector, encoding the particular ones of the packets as a function of the respective packet history associated therewith, each packet having a packet header associated therewith, the packet header including at least a history vector which identifies the respective packet history state of the packet, compressing the encoded packets into the compressed digital signal and applying the compressed digital signal to a communications channel, the apparatus comprising:
• a receiver for receiving the compressed digital signal from the communications channel;
• and
• a decompressor for decompressing the received compressed digital signal, and recovering the input stream of digital data from the decompressed digital signal.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform of a method of transmitting a communications stream between a sending location and a receiving location across a communications channel by dividing the communications stream into a plurality of packets;

• identifying a respective packet history state for particular ones of the packets as a function of a first acknowledgement vector, the first acknowledgement vector being received by the sending location from the receiving location;
• encoding the particular ones of the packets as a function of the respective packet history associated therewith, each such packet having a packet header associated therewith, the packet header including at least a history vector which identifies the respective packet history state of the packet;
• compressing the plurality of packets into a compressed data stream;
• and transmitting, across the communications channel, the compressed data stream from the sending location to the receiving location.