Cross Layer Utility of Diversity Embedded Codes

Diversity embedded codes are opportunistic codes designed for the wireless fading channel. They are high-rate space-time codes which have embedded within them a high-diversity (low rate) code. In this paper, we focus on the application of diversity embedded code to transmission of images over wireless channels. We match the diversity embedded code with a hierarchical (layered) source coder and quantify the image quality as compared to a single-layer space-time code. These preliminary results suggest that diversity embedded codes might be the right physical layer functionality required for wireless multimedia transmission.