Compression of frequent data values across narrow links

A method comprising:

• receiving a data stream for transmission over a communication link;
• partitioning, by a link interface unit, the data stream into blocks of data of a first size;
• sending, over the communication link, first blocks of the blocks of data of the first size without sending second blocks of the blocks of data of the first size, responsive to determining the second blocks match one or more first data patterns;
• generating an encoding to indicate which data pattern of the one or more first data patterns the second portions match;
• and
• sending the encoding over the communication link.

A link interface unit comprising:

• one or more buffers;
• and
• control logic;
• wherein the control logic is configured to:
• receive a data stream for transmission over the communication link;
• store the data stream in the one or more buffers;
• partition the data stream into blocks of data of a first size;
• send, over the communication link, first blocks of the blocks of data of the first size without sending second blocks of the blocks of data of the first size, responsive to determining the second blocks match one or more first data patterns;
• generate an encoding to indicate which data pattern the second portions match;
• and
• send the encoding over the communication link.