System and method for data compression and decompression in a graphics processing system

A system for compressing graphics data values, the system comprising:

• a difference calculator configured to calculate differences in graphics data values for neighboring pixels in a pixel block;
• a predictor configured to predict a prediction value for each pixel in the pixel block based on the calculated differences;
• a prediction error calculator configured to calculate a prediction error value for each pixel in the pixel block based on the prediction value for each pixel;
• a mapper configured to map each prediction error value to a positive data value resulting in a plurality of mapped data values;
• an entropy parameter calculator configured to determine an entropy parameter;
• a divider configured to divide each mapped data value by the determined entropy parameter yielding an entropy part and a noise part;
• and
• an encoder configured to encode the entropy part and the noise part, wherein the determined entropy parameter satisfies the relationships:
• [EntropyL(K)−EntropyL(K+2)]>[NoiseL(K+2)−NoiseL(K)];
• and
• [EntropyL(K−2)−EntropyL(K)]<[NoiseL(K)−NoiseL(K−2)].