System and method for encoding and decoding variable-length data

A data structure stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising:

• a contiguously stored set of fields, including:
• a tag, occupying a contiguous space, the tag specifying storage lengths for N values, where N is an integer greater than one;
• and
• N fields for storing the N values, wherein each of the N fields has a storage length specified by the tag.

A method of decoding an encoded block of data, comprising:

• decoding a tag, occupying a contiguous space, so as to identify storage lengths for N fields of the encoded block of data, where N is an integer greater than one;
• and
• reading the N fields at positions in the encoded block of data determined in accordance with the tag;
• wherein the encoded block of data includes a contiguously stored set of fields, including the tag and the N fields.

A system for decoding an encoded block of data, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor and storing software instructions including:
• instructions to decode a tag, identifying storage lengths for N fields of the encoded block of data;
• and
• instructions to read the N fields at positions in the encoded block of data determined in accordance with the tag, wherein a tag occupies a contiguous space, N is an integer greater than one, and the encoded block of data includes a contiguously stored set of fields, including the tag and the N fields.

A system for encoding a block of data, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor and storing software instructions including:
• instructions to generate a tag;
• and
• instructions to store the tag and a set of fields in a block of data including a contiguous set of storage locations, wherein the tag occupies a contiguous space, the tag comprises N subfields, each subfield specifies a respective length of a respective field of N fields in the set of fields, and each of the N fields has a length specified by a respective subfield of the N subfields.