base16k - Efficient Binary Data Encoding in Unicode Text

[Markus Scherer]

Binary data, that is, arbitrary data using unrestricted byte values, is frequently transported in 
text data formats where the syntax limits the available byte values. (Examples: Binary data in SMTP 
emails and in XML.) There are commonly used encodings for representing binary data in text; they map 
binary values to a small repertoire of characters that is available in almost all legacy codepages. 
Unicode presents an incentive and an opportunity for efficient encoding of binary data by using a 
larger repertoire of characters, resulting in a more efficient encoding than common methods.

Please take a look at http://www.mindspring.com/~markus.scherer/unicode/base16k.html
(It includes an online demo.)
Best regards,
markus
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