Packet-Symbol Decoding for Reliable Multipath Reception with No Sequence Numbers

This paper presents a new decoding method inspired by Mitzenmacher´s idea of adding a different pseudo-random number to each packet, in a packet-symbol (n, k) code, for verification-based decoding low density codes with packet deletions or errors, or out-of-order receptions, and no sequence numbers. The new method has less decoding complexity and is not restricted to low density codes. In multipath reception, the same packet may be received more than once, correctly or incorrectly, packets may be received out of order, or with error. Despite this and despite using no sequence number overhead and very limited error detection overhead, the decoder can decode the packet-based code and re-order the data as long as the errors and deletions do not come within 2 of covering the positions of any code word. If order is preserved, the constraint is not to come within one of covering any code word. Also, it is shown how convolutional codes can further simplify decoding.