Error prevention method for multimedia data

• US RE40,661 E1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Park, Dong-seek, Luttrell, Max, Dowling, Brendan, Villasenor, John, Chen, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton; David
• Application Number:
  US09/996,086
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 65/325, 357/206, 364/514, 714/755, 714/799, 714/699, 714/825, 714/775, 714/746, 714/748, 714/751
• US Class Current: 714/699
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/00 Coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or error correction; Coding theory basic assumptions; Coding bounds; Error probability evaluation methods; Channel models; Simulation or testing of codes error detection or error correction for analogue/digital, digital/analogue or code conversion H03M1/00 – H03M11/00; specially adapted for digital computers G06F11/08; for information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B, e.g. G11B20/18; for static stores G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/23 using convolutional codes, e.g. unit memory codes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/35 Unequal or adaptive error protection, e.g. by providing a different level of protection according to significance of source information or by adapting the coding according to the change of transmission channel characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/6306 Error control coding in combination with Automatic Repeat reQuest [ARQ] and diversity transmission, e.g. coding schemes for the multiple transmission of the same information or the transmission of incremental redundancy H03M13/3761, H03M13/3769 and H03M13/635 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/6375 Rate compatible punctured convolutional [RCPC] codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0059 Convolutional codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0068 by puncturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1816 with retransmission of the same, encoded, message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1819 with retransmission of additional or different redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1825 Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1845 Combining techniques, e.g. code combining

Abstract

An error protection method for multimedia improves data recovery and channel throughput in channels which cause a random error and a burst error by using a rate compatible punctured convolutional code (RCPC) and an automatic retransmission on request (ARQ). In a process of decoding a plurality of packets of given information, the error protection method includes the steps of a) decoding one of the plurality of packets, b) decoding another packet when an error occurs during the decoding in step a), c) decoding a combination of the packets from steps a) and b) or a third packet when an error occurs in step b), and d) repeating step c) until the decoding error no longer occurs. The error protection method has the characteristics of both Type-1 and Type-2 ARQ methods. Therefore, one can obtain constant channel throughput in a channel containing burst errors, a channel containing random errors, and a channel in which the two types of error patterns coexist simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method of protecting error from occurring during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising the steps of:

a) decoding one of said plurality of packets;

b) decoding another packet when an error occurs during said decoding in said step a);

c) decoding a combination of said packets of said steps a) and b) or a third packet when an error occurs during said decoding in said step b), and

d) repeating said step c) unit no decoding error occurs.

2. An error protecting method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of, storing the decoded results and standing by decoding of a plurality of packets of next information when no decoding error occurs during said steps a) to d).

3. An error protecting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, at least two decoding error packets are combined and decoded when the number of said packets in said step c) is at least three.

4. An error protection method as claimed in claim 3, wherein decoding is sequentially performed starting from when the number of combined packets is two and including a latest packet determined to have a decoding error.

5. A method of protecting from an error occurring during the decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a) decoding a first packet which is one of the plurality of packets; and

b) combining the first packet with two or more other packets of the plurality of packets when an error occurs in the decoding in a), wherein said two or more other packets are packets which had an error occur during decoding thereof.

6. A method of protecting from an error occurring during the decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a) decoding a first packet which is one of the plurality of packets;

b) combining the first packet with a second packet when an error occurs in the decoding in a), wherein said second packet is one of the plurality of packets and is a packet which had an error occur during decoding thereof;

c) combining the first packet with a combination of the second packet and at least a third packet and decoding the packets combined in c), when an error occurs in the decoding in b), wherein said third packet is one of the plurality of packets and is a packet which had an error occur during decoding thereof; and

d) repeating c) if an error occurs in the decoding of c).

7. An error protection method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising storing one of the decoded results and standing by the stored decoded result when no decoding error occurs in any one of a) to c).

8. A method of protecting errors during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a) decoding a first packet of said plurality of packets;

b) decoding a second packet of said plurality of packets when an error occurs during the decoding of said first packet;

c) decoding a combination of said first and second packets when an error occurs, during decoding of the second packet; and

d) decoding a third packet of said plurality of packets when an error occurs during the decoding of said first and second packets, and when an error occurs in decoding said combination of said first and second packets.

9. An error protection method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

e) decoding a combination of two or more of said first through third packets when an error occurs during the decoding in step d).

10. An error protection method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

f) if an error occurs e), repeating step e) using a different combination of packets.

11. An error protection apparatus for protecting errors from occurring during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a buffer coupled to a transmission channel and storing packets received from a transmitter;

a decoder unit which decodes one or more packets stored in the buffer,

wherein in response to generating an error upon decoding a combination of the packets, said decoder unit decodes a second combination of packets stored in said buffer, wherein said second combination of packets is different from said first combination of packets.

12. The error protection apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein in response to said decoder unit generating a decoding error, said buffer transmits a signal to the transmitter causing the transmitter to transmit another of the plurality of packets.

13. An error protection apparatus for protecting errors from occurring during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a buffer coupled to a transmission channel and storing packets received from a transmitter;

decoder means for decoding one or more packets stored in the buffer,

wherein in response to generating an error upon decoding a combination of the packets, said decoder means decodes a second combination of packets stored in said buffer, wherein said second combination of packets is different from said first combination of packets.

14. The error protection apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein in response to said decoder means generating a decoding error, said buffer transmits a signal to the transmitter causing the transmitter to transmit another of the plurality of packets.

15. A method of protecting errors from occurring during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising the steps of:

(a) decoding one of said plurality of packets;

(b) decoding another packet when an error occurs during said decoding in said step (a); and

(c) decoding a combination of said packets of said steps (a) and (b) or a third packet when an error occurs during said decoding in said step (b).

16. A method of protecting from an error occurring during the decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

(a) decoding a first packet which is one of the plurality of packets; and

(b) combining the first packet with two or more other packets of the plurality of packets when an error occurs in the decoding in (a).

17. An error protection apparatus for protecting errors from occurring during decoding of a plurality of packets of given information, comprising:

a buffer coupled to a transmission channel and storing packets received from a transmitter; and

a decoder unit which decodes one or more packets stored in the buffer, wherein in response to generating an error upon decoding a combination of the packets, said decoder unit decodes a second combination of packets stored in said buffer.