METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AND DECOMPRESSING PAGING DATA

A system and method for encoding and decoding page messages includes an encoder for encoding and classifying each word of the page message. Words found in one of one or more word dictionaries are encoded into corresponding compressed codes. A header code identifying either the dictionary or the classification of the word is associated with each word. The encoded message is transmitted to a page receiver where each word is decoded based upon the header code associated therewith. If the header code indicates that the word is a compressed code stored in a word dictionary, the compressed code is used to retrieve the word from the dictionary. If the header code indicates that the word is not stored in a word dictionary, the words are decoded differently, depending upon their classification.