System and Method for Optimizing Data Transfer using Selective Compression

1 . A system for optimizing data transfers across a network to a destination system, the system comprising:

a source system; and

an analyzer configured to collect a plurality of metrics from the source system and the network;

the analyzer further configured to calculate a cost ratio for a transfer of a volume of data, via the network to the destination system, the cost ratio comprising a time to transfer the volume of data with compression, divided by a time to transfer the volume of data without compression.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metrics are further collected from the destination system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metrics are selected from a group consisting of CPU load, memory usage, hard disk read speed, and network transfer speed.

4 . A method for optimizing data transfers over a network between a source system and a destination system, the method comprising the steps:

a. with an analyzer, collecting a plurality of metrics from the source system and the network;

b. receiving at the source system, a volume of data for transfer to the destination system, the volume of data comprising text files and binary files;

c. with the analyzer, calculating a first transfer cost to transfer the volume of data via the network to the destination system with first compressing the volume of data;

d. with the analyzer, calculating a second transfer cost to transfer the volume of data via the network to the destination system without compressing the volume of data;

e. constantly determining at the source system, a cost ratio, the cost ratio calculated by dividing the first transfer cost by the second transfer cost; and

f. compressing at the source system, the volume of data, if the cost ratio is less than 1.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of routing a compressed volume of data from the source system to the destination system via the network.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein step (a) further comprises collecting, at the source system, a plurality of metrics from the destination system.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first transfer cost further comprises the cost of decompressing a compressed volume of data at the destination system.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the volume of data is split into a plurality of chunks.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the each plurality of chunks is analyzed to determine, at the source system, a chunk cost ratio, wherein the chunk cost ratio is calculated by dividing the first transfer cost by the second transfer cost for the each plurality of chunks.