Method, apparatus and computer-readable code for data compression of network packets

An apparatus for receiving and decompressing packets transmitted from a sending location, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a packet receiver operative to receive a plurality of compressed packets transmitted from the sending location, said plurality of compressed packets associated with a transmission order;
• and
• (b) a data decompressor operative to decompress at least some of said received packets, said data decompressor operative, for each packet of at least a sub-plurality of said compressed packets:
• (i) to determine a respective dictionary from a respective group of packets that precede said each packet in said transmission order,
• (ii) to attempt to decompress said each packet using said respective dictionary, and
• (iii) upon failure of said attempt to decompress said each packet:
• upon receipt, by said packet receiver, of at least one more packet that precedes said each packet in said transmission order:
• (A) to update said respective dictionary in accordance with said at least one more packet, and
• (B) to repeat said attempt to decompress said each packet using said respective dictionary as updated in accordance with said at least one more packet.

A method of compressing a plurality of packets to be transmitted from a sending location to a receiving location, comprising:

• (a) receiving, at the sending location, from the receiving location, a respective acknowledgement of each packet that is received by the receiving location;
• and
• (b) for each packet of at least a sub-plurality of the packets:
• (i) determining a respective dictionary from a respective group of packets that includes only said each packet and at least one packet whose respective acknowledgement has been received at the sending location, and
• (ii) generating a respective compressed packet using said respective dictionary.

An apparatus for compressing and transmitting a plurality of packets, comprising:

• (a) a packet transmitter operative to transmit packets to a receiving location;
• (b) an acknowledgement receiver operative to receive, from said receiving location, respective acknowledgements of packets received by said receiving location;
• and
• (c) a data compressor operative to generate compressed packets by steps including, for each packet of at least a sub-plurality of the packets:
• (i) determining a respective dictionary from a respective group of packets that includes only said each packet and at least one packet whose respective acknowledgement has been received by said acknowledgement receiver, and
• (ii) generating a respective said compressed packet using said respective dictionary.