Data compression apparatus and method therefor

A data compression system, comprising:

• data compression means for generating compressed packets of data contained in a plurality data streams, each data stream comprising a sequence of such packets, each of which packets comprises a plurality of data bits;
• multiplexing apparatus for delaying and multiplexing compressed packets of data from the plurality of data streams into a multiplexed compressed modulated pulse train, each pulse carrying a packet of data, in which compressed modulated data pulses are separated in time;
• modulating apparatus for separating compressed modulated data pulses from the multiplexed compressed modulated pulse train into separate compressed modulated pulse trains, one for each data stream;
• and
• decompression apparatus for decompressing the compressed modulated data pulses of each compressed modulated pulse train,
• wherein:
• said data compression means comprises a source of coherent electromagnetic radiation coupled to a plurality of pulse compressors, via respective modulators;
• the source generates chirped pulses of electromagnetic radiation, each of which pulses has a frequency that varies over time, throughout its duration, in one of a monotonically increasing manner and a monotonically decreasing manner;
• each modulator is configured to modulate respective chirped pulses with continually varying data of a respective packet to form a modulated chirped pulse, such that each modulated chirped pulse contains a series of individual pulses corresponding to the data bits constituting an entire packet of data;
• propagation time of the modulated chirped pulses through the pulse compressor is linearly dependent upon the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation constituting the modulated chirped pulse, whereby said series of data bits constituting an entire packet of data is compressed as said modulated chirped pulse on which they are modulated propagates through the pulse compressor;
• the modulating apparatus is arranged to select compressed chirped modulated pulses from the multiplexed compressed modulated pulse train, to generate respective streams of compressed data packets;
• for each respective stream of compressed data packets, said decompression apparatus comprises a detector of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the modulating apparatus via a pulse decompressor;
• and
• each selected compressed modulated chirped pulse of electromagnetic radiation propagates within a pulse decompressor in which a propagation time of said pulses is linearly dependent upon the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation, so as to decompress the selected compressed modulated chirped pulse.