On enhancing the random linear network coding

Network coding is a promising technology which allows coding of multiple packets in routers. Random linear network coding (RLNC), a distributed network coding scheme, insists each node to forward independent random linear combinations of incoming packets through its outgoing links. RLNC appends a header which contains the information about how the linear combinations are taken. We observe that some additional flexibility can be induced in RLNC header with minor modification in decoding. Our modification does not make any increase in computational complexity. We also demonstrate some applications of it in secure network coding and error correction.