Graceful degradation over packet erasure channels through forward error correction

We present an algorithm that assigns unequal amounts of forward error correction to progressive data so as to provide graceful degradation as packet losses increase. We use the SPIHT coder to compress images in this work, but our algorithm can protect any progressive compression scheme. The algorithm can also use almost any function as a model of packet loss conditions. We find that for an exponential packet loss model with a mean of 20% and a total rate of 0.2 bpp, good image quality can be obtained, even when 40% of transmitted packets are lost.