Use of concatenated FEC coding for real-time packet video over heterogeneous wired-to-wireless IP networks

In this paper, we address the problem of robust packet video transmission over heterogeneous wired-to-wireless IP networks. We propose the use of a concatenated FEC coding scheme employing interlaced Reed-Solomon (RS) codes and rate-compatible punctured convolutional (RCPC) codes to protect the video data from packet loss and bit errors, respectively. Furthermore, the performance of a joint source-channel coding (JSCC) approach employing this concatenated FEC coding scheme for video transmission is also studied. Results indicate that with an appropriate JSCC approach, concatenated FEC-based error-control techniques, together with passive error-recovery techniques, can significantly improve the effective video throughput and lead to acceptable video delivery quality over time-varying heterogeneous wired-to-wireless IP networks.