Systems and methods for data compression such as content dependent data compression

A method for compressing data, comprising the steps of:

• analyzing a data block of an input data stream to identify a data type of the data block, the input data stream comprising a plurality of disparate data types,
• if the data type of the data block is identified, then the method further comprising:
• performing content dependent data compression to compress the data block;
• comparing a content dependent data compression ratio of the compressed data block against a first threshold;
• appending a data compression type descriptor to the compressed data block;
• outputting the compressed data block and appended data compression type descriptor, if the content data compression ratio is above the first threshold;
• and
• performing data compression on the data block with a single data compression encoder, if the content dependent data compression ratio is not above the first threshold.

A method comprising:

• receiving a data block in an uncompressed form, said data block being included in a data stream;
• analyzing said data block to determine a type of said data block;
• and
• compressing said data block to provide a compressed data block, wherein if one or more encoders are associated to said type, compressing said data block with at least one of said one or more encoders, else compressing said data block with a data compression encoder.

A method comprising:

• receiving a data block, wherein said data block is included in a data stream;
• determining whether to output said data block in received form or in a compressed form;
• and
• outputting said data block in received form or said compressed form based on said determination, wherein outputting said data block in said compressed form comprises determining whether to compress said data block with content dependent data compression based on the type of said data block or to compress said data block with a single data compression encoder.