Comparative rate-distortion performance of multiple description coding for real-time audiovisual communication over the Internet

To facilitate real-time audiovisual communication through the Internet, forward error correction (FEC) and multiple description coding (MDC) can be used as low-delay packet-loss recovery techniques. We use both a Gilbert channel model and data obtained from real IP connections to compare the rate-distortion performance of different variants of FEC and MDC. Using identical overall rates with stringent delay constraints, we find that side-distortion optimized MDC generally performs better than Reed-Solomon-based FEC. If the channel condition is known from feedback, then channel-optimized MDC can be used to exploit this information, resulting in significantly improved performance. Our results confirm that two-independent-channel transmission is preferred to single-channel transmission, both for FEC and MDC.