A method includes performing, by a microprocessor of a computing device, a coding to obtain a residual of a residual data block from an original data block. The method includes pre-defining a default order of symbols in the residual data block. The method includes re-ordering the symbols in the residual data block in an order other than the default order, such that a first set of most frequently used symbols are in a first location and a second set of least frequently used symbols are in a second location, producing a multi-symbol run-length code based on a group of symbols from the first set of most frequently used symbols, and detecting the second set of least frequently used symbols based on the multi-symbol run-length code.