Bounds on Data Compression Ratio with a Given Tolerable Error Probability

Abstract

The paper treats data compression from the viewpoint of probability theory where a certain error probability is tolerable. We obtain bounds for the minimal rate given an error probability for blockcoding of general stationary ergodic sources. An application of the theory of large deviations provides numerical methods to compute for memoryless sources, the minimal compression rate given a tolerable error probability. Interesting connections between Cramer's functions and Shannon's theory for lossy coding are found.