Encoding variable length symbols to enable parallel decoding

1. A method implemented by an information handling system, the method comprising:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of first symbols included in a first bit stream that is partitioned into at least a first data chunk and a second data chunk, wherein a beginning of the selected first symbol resides in the first data chunk and the plurality of first symbols are of a plurality of different symbol lengths, and wherein the first data chunk and the second data chunk are of a fixed width size that is based on a longest one of the plurality of different symbol lengths;

generating a first pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected first symbol resides in the second data chunk;

generating a multiplexed bit stream by combining the first bit stream with a second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator; and

transmitting the multiplexed bit stream to a destination system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second bit stream is partitioned into at least a third data chunk and a fourth data chunk, the method further comprising:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of second symbols included in the second bit stream, wherein a beginning of the selected second symbol resides in the third data chunk;

generating a second pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected second symbol resides in the fourth data chunk; and

combining the first bit stream with the second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator, wherein the multiplexed bit stream is organized in order as the first data chunk, the second data chunk, the third data chunk, and the fourth data chunk.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

utilizing a single stream converter to generate the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

encoding an uncompressed byte stream into an initial symbol stream comprising a plurality of symbols; and

partitioning the initial symbol stream into the first bit stream and the second bit stream, wherein the partitioning also partitions the plurality of symbols into the plurality of first symbols and the plurality of second symbols.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

partitioning, by the destination system, the multiplexed bit stream into a plurality of fixed width data chunks;

decoding the plurality of symbols included in the plurality of fixed width data chunks using a plurality of decoders, resulting in a plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams;

combining the plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams into a decoded symbol stream; and

decoding the decoded symbol stream, resulting in a reconstructed byte stream.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of decoders includes a first buffer and a second buffer that are both based on the fixed width size of the plurality of fixed width data chunks, the method further comprising:

decoding a selected one of the plurality of symbols located in the first buffer;

determining that the selected symbol reaches into the second buffer; and

in response to determining that the selected symbol reaches into the second buffer:

shifting contents from the second buffer into the first buffer; and

requesting a subsequent fixed width data chunk.

7. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory coupled to at least one of the processors;

a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions of:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of first symbols included in a first bit stream that is partitioned into at least a first data chunk and a second data chunk, wherein a beginning of the selected first symbol resides in the first data chunk and the plurality of first symbols are of a plurality of different symbol lengths, and wherein the first data chunk and the second data chunk are of a fixed width size that is based on a longest one of the plurality of different symbol lengths;

generating a first pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected first symbol resides in the second data chunk;

generating a multiplexed bit stream by combining the first bit stream with a second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator; and

transmitting the multiplexed bit stream to a destination system.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the second bit stream is partitioned into at least a third data chunk and a fourth data chunk, and wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of second symbols included in the second bit stream, wherein a beginning of the selected second symbol resides in the third data chunk;

generating a second pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected second symbol resides in the fourth data chunk; and

combining the first bit stream with the second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator, wherein the multiplexed bit stream is organized in order as the first data chunk, the second data chunk, the third data chunk, and the fourth data chunk.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

utilizing a single stream converter to generate the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator.

10. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

encoding an uncompressed byte stream into an initial symbol stream comprising a plurality of symbols; and

partitioning the initial symbol stream into the first bit stream and the second bit stream, wherein the partitioning also partitions the plurality of symbols into the plurality of first symbols and the plurality of second symbols.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

partitioning, by the destination system, the multiplexed bit stream into a plurality of fixed width data chunks;

decoding the plurality of symbols included in the plurality of fixed width data chunks using a plurality of decoders, resulting in a plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams;

combining the plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams into a decoded symbol stream; and

decoding the decoded symbol stream, resulting in a reconstructed byte stream.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of decoders includes a first buffer and a second buffer that are both based on the fixed width size of the plurality of fixed width data chunks, and wherein the processors perform additional actions comprising:

decoding a selected one of the plurality of symbols located in the first buffer;

determining that the selected symbol reaches into the second buffer; and

in response to determining that the selected symbol reaches into the second buffer:

shifting contents from the second buffer into the first buffer; and

requesting a subsequent fixed width data chunk.

13. A computer program product stored in a computer readable storage medium, comprising computer program code that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to perform actions comprising:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of first symbols included in a first bit stream that is partitioned into at least a first data chunk and a second data chunk, wherein a beginning of the selected first symbol resides in the first data chunk and the plurality of first symbols are of a plurality of different symbol lengths, and wherein the first data chunk and the second data chunk are of a fixed width size that is based on a longest one of the plurality of different symbol lengths;

generating a first pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected first symbol resides in the second data chunk;

generating a multiplexed bit stream by combining the first bit stream with a second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator; and

transmitting the multiplexed bit stream to a destination system.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the second bit stream is partitioned into at least a third data chunk and a fourth data chunk, and wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

selecting a symbol from a plurality of second symbols included in the second bit stream, wherein a beginning of the selected second symbol resides in the third data chunk;

generating a second pull timing indicator in response to determining that at least a portion of the selected second symbol resides in the fourth data chunk; and

combining the first bit stream with the second bit stream based on the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator, wherein the multiplexed bit stream is organized in order as the first data chunk, the second data chunk, the third data chunk, and the fourth data chunk.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

utilizing a single stream converter to generate the first pull timing indicator and the second pull timing indicator.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

encoding an uncompressed byte stream into an initial symbol stream comprising a plurality of symbols; and

partitioning the initial symbol stream into the first bit stream and the second bit stream, wherein the partitioning also partitions the plurality of symbols into the plurality of first symbols and the plurality of second symbols.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the information handling system performs further actions comprising:

partitioning, by the destination system, the multiplexed bit stream into a plurality of fixed width data chunks;

decoding the plurality of symbols included in the plurality of fixed width data chunks using a plurality of decoders, resulting in a plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams;

combining the plurality of decoded symbol sub-streams into a decoded symbol stream; and

decoding the decoded symbol stream, resulting in a reconstructed byte stream.