Methods and apparatus are provided that relate to receiving a bit pattern that is representative of a binary data sequence; generating a multi-bit data byte sequence that is representative of the bit pattern by, for at least one bit in the bit pattern: outputting a larger-valued multi-bit data byte that is larger than a byte-sequencer reference data byte according to a first criteria, outputting a smaller-valued multi-bit data byte that is smaller than the byte-sequencer reference data byte according to a second criteria; and encoding the generated multi-bit data byte sequence by, for each generated multi-bit data byte: outputting a single bit whose value is indicative of whether the generated multi-bit data byte is larger or smaller than a current reference multi-bit data byte and updating the current reference multi-bit data byte based on the generated multi-bit data byte.