Video compression algorithm

1. A video compression system configured to perform a routine comprising:

comparing a current pixel to a plurality of reference pixels;

making n-bit fixed length header packets that define at least the current pixel, said header packets including:

one of a plurality of variable length opcodes each identifying one of a plurality of encoding commands from a set of available encoding commands including:

(1) run length commands; and

(2) short delta commands;

a variable length payload including:

(1) for run length commands: a count value specifying how many pixels to perform the run length command; and

(2) for short delta commands: a delta value for each color channel such that a short delta command can be represented by a single n-bit fixed packet.

2. The video compression system of claim 1 , wherein:

the n-bit fixed length header packet is 8 bits;

the opcodes for run-length commands are 4 bits; and

the opcodes for short delta commands are 2 bits.

3. The video compression system of claim 1 , wherein said run length commands include:

(a) copy left command;

(b) copy old command; and

(c) copy above command;

and said short delta commands include:

(d) short delta with respect to the same pixel in the previous frame; and

(e) short delta with respect to the pixel to the left of the current pixel.

4. A video compression system configured to perform a routine comprising:

comparing a current pixel to a plurality of reference pixels;

making n-bit fixed length header packets that define at least the current pixel, said header packets including:

one of a plurality of variable length opcodes each identifying one of a plurality of encoding commands from a set of available encoding commands including:

(1) commands that can be executed with a single n-bit packet, including:

(a) run length commands; and

(b) short delta commands;

(2) commands executed with multiple packets including:

(c) delta commands;

(d) make pixel commands;

(e) make series commands.