Method and system for encoding and decoding data using run prediction

Abstract

A data encoding method having a prediction setting process that designates a numerically superior symbol as either a '0' or a '1', and the other one is designated as a numerically inferior symbol. Then a binary bit string composed of '0's and '1's is input, and the numerically superior symbol is predicted to continuously repeat for n symbols, where n is set as a prediction bit number. A prediction result output process outputs a prediction correct signal that is either a '0' or a '1' when a prediction is correct for the observed series. The process then moves to an operation to perform encoding of a bit series containing the next n symbols, or otherwise outputs the other signal (i.e., that is not used to represent that the prediction is correct) as a prediction failure signal. A similar prediction setting process and prediction result output process is recursively repeated by setting a new prediction bit number that is smaller than the above prediction bit number by n symbols when the prediction fails for a predetermined number of times. Further, the same prediction setting process and prediction result output process are recursively repeated using a prediction bit number changed to a new prediction bit number increased by n symbols when the prediction is correct for a predetermined number of times. Similar algorithms are applied to perform decoding.