Embedding unequal error protection into turbo codes

A technique to embody unequal error protection into turbo codes is presented. Through proper optimization of the turbo codes interleaver, different levels of error protection can be accommodated within the same encoded block. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated in the case of transmission of JPEG2000 coded images across an AWGN channel. The unequal error protection offered by the turbo code is able to match the progressive nature of the encoded image well, thus improving the quality of the decoded images at the receiver.