Abstract: Dictionary based data compression apparatus comprising: a library of static dictionaries each optimized for a different data type, a data type determiner operable to scan incoming data and determine a data type thereof, a selector for selecting a static dictionary corresponding to said determined data type and a compressor for compressing said incoming data using said selected dictionary. The apparatus is useful in providing efficient compression of relatively short data packets having undefined contents as may be expected in a network switch.

Abstract: A system for secure broadband communication, including: (a) a server device for transmitting data; and (b) a client device including a broadband modem for receiving data, the broadband modem including: (i) a public hardware identification key for being sent to the server device, such that the client device is identified by the public hardware identification key and such that the server device permits transmission to the client device through the broadband modem according to the public hardware identification key, and (ii) a private hardware identification key for controlling reception of data by the client device through the broadband modem, the private hardware identification key being known by the server device, such that substantially only data being marked by the private identification key is passed to the client device from the server device by the broadband modem.