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Abstract

An image data encoder and decoder system which divides native or uncompressed image data into a plurality of streams for subsequent arithmetic encoding and decoding operations. Once each stream has been encoded, it may be relayed in its present format to a corresponding decoder unit or combined with other encoded streams to produce a composite encoded stream representing a compressed version of the original image data suitable for external transfer or storage. When stored in composite form, the decoder may include a distributing preprocessor that breaks it back down into its constituent encoded streams to facilitate parallel decoding. After decoding operations have produced plural decoded image streams, a final stage reintegrates them back to the original image data. The matched parallel encoder and decoder architectures permit pipelined processing of image data without necessarily increasing overall processing speeds.

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First Claim