Efficient data compression and analysis as a service

A method, comprising:

• performing, by one or more computing devices of a network-based compression service associated with a plurality of different client systems wherein the compression service is implemented on a network distinct from one or more client networks of one or more of the plurality of different client systems:
• providing a defined interface for the plurality of different client systems to obtain compressed data from the compression service;
• receiving, via the defined interface, a compression request from a given client system of the plurality of different client systems, the compression request indicating data to be compressed;
• in response to receiving the compression request:
• performing an analysis on the data to be compressed or metadata associated with the data to be compressed in order to select one or more compression techniques out of a plurality of compression techniques to be applied to the data, wherein each of the plurality of compression techniques is different from one another;
• generating one or more data compression candidates according to the selected one or more compression techniques;
• generating, until a given compression service restriction is exceeded, an additional data compression candidate for each of one or more additional compression techniques of the plurality of compression techniques;
• selecting, from a group including both the one or more generated data compression candidates and the additional data compression candidates, one data compression candidate to send to the client system as compressed data according to a compression selection criterion;
• and
• providing, in response to the compression request from the given client system, the selected one data compression candidate.

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of computing devices, at least partially implemented by hardware, configured to implement a network-based compression service for a plurality of different client systems, wherein the network-based compression service is implemented on a network distinct from one or more client networks of one or more of the plurality of different client systems, the service comprising:
• a data compression service module, configured to compress data according to one or more compression techniques of a plurality of compression techniques, wherein each of the plurality of compression techniques is different and distinct from one another;
• a network-based service interface including a defined interface for the plurality of different client systems to obtain compressed data from the compression service, the service interface configured to:
• receive a compression request from a given client system of the plurality of different client systems, the request indicating data to be compressed;
• in response to receipt of the compression request:
• determine a fee structure associated with the compression request;
• direct the data compression service module to generate one or more data compression data candidates according to the fee structure associated with the request and the one or more compression techniques;
• direct, in compliance with the fee structure, the data compression service module to generate an additional data compression candidate for each of one or more additional compression techniques of the plurality of compression techniques;
• select, from a group including both the one or more generated data compression candidates and the additional data compression candidates, one data compression candidate to provide as requested compressed data;
• generate a fee for the requested compressed data according to the fee structure;
• and
• send the requested compressed data according to the compression request.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions that when executed by one or more computing devices implement a network-based compression service for providing compression services to a plurality of different client systems, wherein the compression service is implemented on a network distinct from one or more client networks of one or more of the plurality of different client systems, the compression service configured to:

• receive a compression request from a client system of the plurality of different client systems, wherein the request indicates data to be compressed;
• in response to receipt of the compression request:
• perform analysis on the data to be compressed or metadata associated with the data to be compressed in order to select one or more compression techniques out of a plurality of compression techniques to be applied to the data to be compressed, wherein each of the plurality of compression techniques is different and distinct from one another;
• generate one or more data compression candidates according to the selected one or more compression techniques;
• generate, until a given compression service restriction is exceeded, an additional data compression candidate for each of one or more additional compression techniques of the plurality of compression techniques;
• select, from a group including both the one or more generated data compression candidates and the additional data compression candidates, one data compression candidate according to a compression selection criterion;
• and
• provide, in response to the compression request, selected data compression candidate.