Abstract: An encoded message, includes a plurality of data items and a plurality of redundant data items. Each of the plurality of redundant data items corresponds to a number of the data items, with respective redundant data items corresponding to different numbers of data items.

Abstract: A plurality of movies are distributively stored in digital form on a mass storage unit such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) disk drive system such that they can be viewed on demand by multiple users. A master controller receives movie requests from users, and generates designation commands through a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus that designates a retrieval controller at the requesting user's facility, and locations of the requested movie data in the RAID system. Successive designation commands are generated for successive blocks of the movie data. A designated retrieval controller reads a designated block of data from the RAID system through the SCSI bus, and converts the retrieved data into video picture and audio format to show the movie on a television receiver at the requesting user's facility. The movie data is preferably compressed on the RAID system in Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format, and decompressed by the retrieval controllers.

Abstract: An image stored in a memory of a computer as pixels, each pixel including a bit pattern to indicate a grey-scale level. The image is compressed by grouping the pixels of the image into a plurality of regularized groups of pixels. The partitioning of the image can be in groups of four by four adjacent pixels. Groups of pixels having identical bit patterns are identified. The groups of pixels are encoded according to a frequency of groups of pixels having identical bit patterns.