Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing simultaneous data compression and encryption both compresses and encrypts data in a single step. The invention includes a novel modeling method for use in conjunction with a coder, such as an arithmetic coder. The modeling method introduces randomness into the compression process, with the result that the output stream is secure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing data compression on raw uncompressed data. The method develops a semi-adaptive modeler that sub-divides the length of an input data file into blocks of fixed size. The blocks are then sub-divided into sub-blocks in which the frequencies of the symbols are mapped to occupy the whole frequency space. The modeler is then used to develop a reduced complexity implementation of arithmetic coding, whereby, the time consuming divide operation used in computing the symbols' true probabilities is replaced by a simple shift operation. The reduced complexity arithmetic coder is referred to as approximate arithmetic coder. The modeler and the approximate arithmetic coder are then used in a multi-step data compression system that employs a ZL coder. The multi-step method results in high efficiency data compression systems that are ideal for real time operations and are better suited for network communications or data storage systems.