Szip is an implementation of the extended-Rice lossless compression algorithm. The Consultative Committee on Space Data Systems (CCSDS) has adopted the extended-Rice algorithm for international standards for space applications. Szip is reported to provide fast and effective compression, specifically for the EOS data generated by the NASA Earth Observatory System (EOS). It was originally developed at University of New Mexico (UNM) and integrated with HDF4 by UNM researchers and developers.
SZIP embodies certain inventions patented by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration. United States Patent Nos. 5,448,642, 5,687,255, and 5,822,457 have been licensed to ICs Corp. for distribution with the HDF data storage and retrieval file format and software library products. All rights reserved.
Revocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive sublicense to use SZIP decompression software routines and underlying patents is hereby granted by ICs Corp. to all users of and in conjunction with HDF data storage and retrieval file format and software library products.
Revocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive sublicense to use SZIP compression software routines and underlying patents for non-commercial, scientific use only is hereby granted by ICs Corp. to users of and in conjunction with HDF data storage and retrieval file format and software library products.
For commercial use license to SZIP compression software routines and underlying patents please contact ICs Corp. at ICs Corp., 721 Lochsa Street, Suite 8, Post Falls, ID 83854. (208) 262-2008.
Libaec includes a BSD drop-in replacement for the SZIP.