Abstract: A method of processing multiple VLC data elements concurrently. A system realizing this method comprises a plurality of encoders under control and a plurality, typically like in number, of decoders under separate, but accorded control. Furthermore, a means of communication from the former to the latter is incorporated in which ordinal and temporal correspondence is established between particular encoders and particular decoders. Encoder control provides an ordered symbol assignment strategy across all encoders. Decoder control detects the encoder assignment strategy and applies it to the task of restoring the original output order among all decoder outputs.

Abstract: A processing means is described for the variable-length encoding of digital signals. The resultant serial encoder admits symbols at data-dependent intervals and progressively releases one bit of encoded output each cycle. The encoder comprises storage, a shifter and a simple pattern tester. Excepting the pattern tester, no arithmetic operations are involved. These three parts are arranged such that processing speed is limited by the greater of the retrieval delay from storage and the delay of the pattern tester. This arrangement is made feasible by an implicit means of codeword length storage. Optimal encoding rates for a serial encoder may hereby be obtained.