Using data-compressors for statistical analysis of problems on homogeneity testing and classification

Using Data Compressors to Construct Rank Tests

Nonparametric rank tests for homogeneity and component independence are proposed, which are based on data compressors. For homogeneity testing the idea is to compress the binary string obtained by ordering the two joint samples and writing 0 if the element is from the first sample and 1 if it is from the second sample and breaking ties by randomization (extension to the case of multiple samples is straightforward). $H_0$ should be rejected if the string is compressed (to a certain degree) and accepted otherwise. We show that such a test obtained from an ideal data compressor is valid against a…

Applications of Universal Source Coding to Statistical Analysis of Time Series

We show how universal codes can be used for solving some of the most important statistical problems for time series. By definition, a universal code (or a universal lossless data compressor) can compress any sequence generated by a stationary and ergodic source asymptotically to the Shannon entropy, which, in turn, is the best achievable ratio for lossless data compressors. We consider finite-alphabet and real-valued time series and the following problems: estimation of the limiting probabilities for finite-alphabet time series and estimation of the density for real-valued time series, the on-…

2026年算法信息论数据压缩挑战赛

The 2026 Algorithmic Information Theory Data Compression Challenge

提出2026年算法信息论数据压缩挑战赛，通过公共训练和隐藏测试数据集评估117个通用无损压缩器，发现性能强烈依赖优化标准，并验证了概率建模、隐藏测试和外部数据集的重要性。

Universal Codes as a Basis for Time Series Testing

We suggest a new approach to hypothesis testing for ergodic and stationary processes. In contrast to standard methods, the suggested approach gives a possibility to make tests, based on any lossless data compression method even if the distribution law of the codeword lengths is not known. We apply this approach to the following four problems: goodness-of-fit testing (or identity testing), testing for independence, testing of serial independence and homogeneity testing and suggest nonparametric statistical tests for these problems. It is important to note that practically used so-called archive…

Asymptotic nonparametric statistical analysis of stationary time series

Stationarity is a very general, qualitative assumption, that can be assessed on the basis of application specifics. It is thus a rather attractive assumption to base statistical analysis on, especially for problems for which less general qualitative assumptions, such as independence or finite memory, clearly fail. However, it has long been considered too general to allow for statistical inference to be made. One of the reasons for this is that rates of convergence, even of frequencies to the mean, are not available under this assumption alone. Recently, it has been shown that, while some natur…