Architectures for a modularized data optimization engine and methods therefor

A data optimization engine disposed inline with a first communication channel and a second communication channel, comprising:

• a transmit interface circuit configured to receive a first data stream from said first communication channel and to obtain first data from said first data stream;
• and
• an optimization processor coupled to said transmit interface circuit for receiving second data from said transmit interface circuit, said second data representing said first data after said first data has been processed by said transmit interface circuit into a format suitable for optimization by said optimization processor, said optimization processor being configured to ascertain whether said second data is compressible and whether said second data is a candidate for encryption, said optimization processor being configured to perform in the alternative one of four actions with respect to said second data, a first action of said four actions involving compressing said second data to form compressed data and encrypting said compressed data if said second data is ascertained to be both compressible and said candidate for encryption, a second action of said four actions involving compressing said second data without encrypting said second data if said second data is ascertained to be compressible but not said candidate for encryption, a third action of said four actions involving encrypting said second data without compressing said second data if said second data is ascertained to be not compressible but is ascertained to be said candidate for encryption, a fourth action of said four actions involving neither encrypting nor compressing said second data if said second data is ascertained to be not compressible and not said candidate for encryption.