System and method for symbol-space based compression of patterns

1. A method for symbol-space based pattern compression, comprising:

identifying a plurality of basic image symbols in an input sequence;

assigning, to each of the plurality of basic image symbols, at least one connecting port;

generating an output sequence by replacing each identified basic image symbol with an identification symbol, wherein the output sequence indicates connections between pairs of the plurality of basic image symbols based on the connecting ports, wherein each identification symbol is not a previously used symbol; and

storing the output sequence as a data layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying each connection between each pair of the plurality of basic image symbols, each pair including a first basic image symbol and a second basic image symbol;

determining, for each connection, a first connecting port of the first basic image symbol and a second connecting port of the second basic image symbol, wherein the first basic image symbol is connected to the second basic image symbol through the first connecting port and the second connecting port, respectively.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

assigning a connecting port symbol for each connecting port, wherein the output sequence includes the respective connecting port symbols of each connection.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output sequence further indicates, for each connection, an orientation of the first basic image symbol relative to the second basic image symbol.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

identifying at least one common pattern in the input sequence, wherein each common pattern includes at least two basic image symbols; and

replacing each identified common pattern with a pattern identifier symbol, wherein each pattern identifier symbol is not a previously used symbol.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each common pattern further includes at least one of the identified connections.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each identified basic image symbol appears in the input sequence above a predetermined threshold number of times.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each identification symbol is a signature.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating, for each basic image symbol, a signature, wherein the signature is the identification symbol for the basic image symbol.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processing units to perform the following steps:

identify a plurality of basic image symbols in an input sequence;

assign, to each of the plurality of basic image symbols, at least one connecting port;

generate an output sequence by replacing each identified basic image symbol with an identification symbol, wherein the output sequence indicates connections between pairs of the plurality of basic image symbols based on the connecting ports, wherein each identification symbol is not a previously used symbol; and

store the output sequence as a data layer.

11. A system for symbol-space based pattern compression, comprising:

a processing unit; and

a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the system to:

identify a plurality of basic image symbols in an input sequence;

assign, to each of the plurality of basic image symbols, at least one connecting port;

generate an output sequence by replacing each identified basic image symbol with an identification symbol, wherein the output sequence indicates connections between pairs of the plurality of basic image symbols based on the connecting ports, wherein each identification symbol is not a previously used symbol; and

store the output sequence as a data layer.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is further configured to:

identify each connection between each pair of the plurality of basic image symbols, each pair including a first basic image symbol and a second basic image symbol;

determine, for each connection, a first connecting port of the first basic image symbol and a second connecting port of the second basic image symbol, wherein the first basic image symbol is connected to the second basic image symbol through the first connecting port and the second connecting port, respectively.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system is further configured to:

assign a connecting port symbol for each connecting port, wherein the output sequence includes the respective connecting port symbols of each connection.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the output sequence further indicates, for each connection, an orientation of the first basic image symbol relative to the second basic image symbol.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system is further configured to:

identify at least one common pattern in the input sequence, wherein each common pattern includes at least two basic image symbols; and

replace each identified common pattern with a pattern identifier symbol, wherein each pattern identifier symbol is not a previously used symbol.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein each common pattern further includes at least one of the identified connections.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein each identified basic image symbol appears in the input sequence above a predetermined threshold number of times.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein each identification symbol is a signature.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the system is further configured to:

generate, for each basic image symbol, a signature, wherein the signature is the identification symbol for the basic image symbol.