Fast forward error protection of packetized multimedia bitstreams for transmission over varying channels

We propose a real-time optimization algorithm that selects an appropriate channel code for hybrid systems that combine packetization of an embedded wavelet bitstream into independently decodable packets and forward error correction using a family of channel codes with error detection and error correction capability. Such systems are very powerful for the transmission of audio, images, and video over fading and erasure channels with varying statistics. We also give an implementation that uses an optimal packetization technique and a concatenated cyclic redundancy check/rate-compatible punctured convolutional coder. Experimental results show that the peak signal-to-noise ratio of the average mean square error of our system is up to 1.74 dB higher than that of the previous best hybrid system for a Rayleigh fading channel and a transmission rate of 0.25 bits per pixel. Finally, we compare the hybrid approach to a state-of-the-art approach that uses a product code to protect the information bitstream.