Systems and methods for broadcasting information additive codes

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/076,623, filed Feb. 14, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/757,078, filed Jan. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,406, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/246,015, filed Feb. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,487, which claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/101,473, filed Sep. 23, 1998.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for broadcasting information, and more particularly to systems and methods for broadcasting information, data or content, to intermittently-available receivers, such as mobile receivers.

[0003] A conventional approach to broadcasting data to a large number of receivers is referred to as the data carousel protocol. Using this approach, broadcast data is usually split into equal-sized packets, each of which forms a section in a data carousel. Each section is then broadcast over a specific period of time, and the data carousel continues to repeat to transmit those data portions that one or more receivers did not receive. Usually the broadcasting terminal (e.g., a network server, satellite or terrestrial transmitter) will need to transmit the data in the repeated fashion many times since it is usually not possible to synchronize the receivers to receive the transmitted data during one transmission period. The continued transmission of the same data set reduces the transmitter's efficiency, and as the transmission cycles continue, successively fewer receivers benefit from the transmission.

[0004] Further complicating this approach is the observation that in many applications, each receiver, through its normal course of operation, may itself be switched on and off during a transmission period. Systems such as automotive-based data receivers (e.g., on-board navigation systems), global positioning systems, cellular handsets, and portable computers employing 802.11x wireless communication protocols are but a few examples of such receivers. The sheer number of these receivers combined with their intermittent operation greatly increases the number of transmission cycles required to ensure that a large majority of the receivers have received all data segments.

[0005] Forward error/erasure correction (FEC) represents a conventional improvement to the data carousel approach. In this approach, a forward error correction algorithm is applied to each of the data segments, producing redundant data for that segment. This approach is an improvement over the data carousel, as the receiver needs only receive a subset of each data segment to correctly decode it. This results in fewer transmission cycles being needed to disseminate the broadcast data to a large majority of receivers. While providing an improvement, the FEC data carousel systems still has the disadvantages that: (1) each receiver must still receive a relatively large portion of each data segment; and (2) prior art FEC codes used in such data carousel systems, such as Reed-Solomon codes, require computational resources well beyond that which is available or commercially feasible in many applications. As noted above, many of the intermittently available receivers will not remain continuously on during a transmission period, and accordingly, a large number of repeated transmission cycles will be needed. It is expected that in practice some receivers will receive all segments quickly, while others will take a long time, resulting in the aforementioned condition of repeatedly broadcasting previous data over a long period to achieve a high rate of successful receptions.

[0006] What is therefore needed are systems and methods for broadcasting data to receivers, including mobile and intermittently available receivers, in a more efficient manner.

[0007] The present invention describes new systems and methods for broadcasting data to all types of receivers, including those intermittently available such as mobile receivers, in a highly efficient manner using information additive coding. Information additive coded information (herein referred to as information additive codes, exemplary embodiments of which include LT Codes, Raptor Codes, and Chain Reaction Codes described in the assignee's references incorporated herein) exhibits the unique property that any coded segment can be used to recover the original source data. Accordingly, a receiver in such a system need only receive some threshold amount of the coded data, regardless of what particular segment it contains, or when it is received. The receiver in such a system also does not rely on a backchannel to ensure reception of all transmitted data. These properties make the present invention useful for broadcasting systems, and particularly advantageous for systems broadcasting to intermittently available receivers, as data can be recovered efficiently at all times during reception periods.

[0008] In a particular embodiment of the invention, a broadcasting system is described having one or more information additive code transmitters and one or more information additive code receivers. Each of the information additive code transmitters includes an encoder configured to receive source data and to produce information additive code therefrom. Each of the information additive code receivers includes a decoder configured to receive the information additive code and to reconstruct therefrom substantially a copy of the source data.

[0009] This and other systems and methods of the present invention are provided below, a better understanding of which can be obtained with reference to the following figures and description.

[0010] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a system and corresponding method for broadcasting information additive codes in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2A illustrates a first embodiment of the broadcast transmitter shown in FIG. 1A in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2B illustrates a method of converting input symbols into a coded transmission using the broadcast transmitter shown in FIG. 2A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3A illustrates a second embodiment of the broadcast transmitter shown in FIG. 1A in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of the symbol encoder shown in FIG. 3A in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3C illustrates a method of converting input symbols into a coded transmission using the broadcast transmitter shown in FIG. 3A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4A illustrates a first embodiment of the broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 1A in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4B illustrates a method of recovering input symbols from a coded transmission using the broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 4A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5A illustrates a second embodiment of the broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 1A in accordance with the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 5B illustrates a method for operating the broadcast transmitter shown in FIG. 5A in accordance with the invention.

[0020] FIG. 6A illustrates a method for decoding the information additive codes using inactivation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6B illustrates one embodiment of the start-up process illustrated in FIG. 6A.

[0022] FIG. 6C illustrates a first embodiment of the source symbol selection and deactivation process illustrated in FIG. 6A.

[0023] FIG. 6D illustrates one embodiment of the source symbol recovery process illustrated in FIG. 6A.

[0024] FIG. 7A illustrates a general encoding process which may be used in system broadcasting live streaming data.

[0025] FIG. 7B illustrates a specific embodiment for encoding process for a live data stream in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 7C illustrates a signal timing diagram for signals communicated in accordance with the method of FIG. 7B.

[0027] FIG. 8D illustrates one embodiment of the source symbol recovery process 830 illustrated in FIG. 8A

[0028] FIG. 9A illustrates one embodiment of the present invention comprising a system for broadcasting data to a large number of mobile terminals.

[0029] FIG. 9B illustrates another embodiment of the present invention comprising a system for broadcasting live streaming data to a large number of mobile terminals.

[0030] For clarity and convenience, features and components which are identified in earlier drawings retain their reference numerals in subsequent drawings.

[0031] The broadcasting system and methods of present invention can be used in a variety of applications, particularly in mobile systems in which the receiver may be switched on and off during its normal course of operation. For example, the system may be used to update map databases in automotive-based receivers periodically without the driver's knowledge or intervention. In other applications, the broadcasting system may be used to send passenger manifests to train conductors while the train is in motion, updating and broadcasting weather information to receivers installed on boats, planes, or sending information to PDAs, cell phones, and the like. Other applications of the present invention are further described below with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0032] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a general block diagram of system and corresponding method for broadcasting information additive codes in accordance with the present invention. In a particular embodiment described below, the system is configured to broadcast information additive codes to a number of mobile terminals, for example a number of automobiles.

[0033] Referring first to FIG. 1A, the exemplary broadcast system 100 includes one or more information additive code transmitters (transmitters) 110_1-N, each of which sends a coded transmission 115_1-N across a primary channel 120 to one or more information additive code receivers (receivers) 130_1-N. The coded transmission 115 comprises the information additive codes which is modulated or multiplexed in the appropriate manner to facilitate transmission to the receivers 130_1-N. In those embodiments in which no multiplexing or modulation is needed for broadcast transmission, the term coded transmission will refer to the information additive codes themselves. The information additive codes are comprised of output symbols, the generation of which is further described below.

[0034] In a particular embodiment as shown, the source data 105 is supplied to two or more transmitters 110_1-N. This embodiment can be employed to provide redundancy over the primary channel 120, or to increase the effective reception rate of the receivers 130, as the information additive receivers are capable of decoding the coded transmission upon receiving any suitable number of coded blocks, without regard to the particular data block received. In an alternative embodiment, different source data is supplied to different transmitters. In this instance, different transmitters can be used to simultaneously transmit different content, which the receiver can selectively choose between. In a third embodiment, the source data 105 consists of diverse data multiplexed onto a single stream supplied to the transmitters 110_1-N. As in the previous embodiment, this arrangement provides the ability to concurrently broadcast several different programs to the receivers 130_1-N from which it can selectively choose.

[0035] One or more of the receivers (receiver 130₁ as shown) are configured to receive the coded transmission 114 via a secondary channel 140. The secondary channel 140 provides an alternate communication route should reception via the primary channel not be possible. The secondary channel 140 preferably comprises a channel complimentary to that of the primary channel, for example, a telephone or cable modem line or terrestrial link in the instance in which the primary channel 120 is a satellite link. In a particular embodiment, the secondary channel 140 provides additive information codes data which has not been over the primary channel 120. To achieve this, either the secondary channel 140 has its own dedicated additive information codes transmitter, or some encoded data is diverted from primary channel 120.

[0036] The transmission channel (primary 120 or secondary 140) may comprise any of several communication architectures suitable for the particular multi-cast or broadcast application. For example, the transmission channel may comprise an internal bus architecture operable to communicate data within a microprocessor or computer system. In another embodiment, the channel consists of an external computer network, such as a local area network, a medium areas network, wide area network, or the Internet, in which one source (e.g., a server) broadcasts data to one or more computers. In a third embodiment, the transmission channel consists of a telephone line (analog or digital), cable (electronic or fiber optic), or other structure which can guide and support the propagation of a data signal. In a fourth embodiment, the channel comprises a free space (RF/electromagnetic or optical wavelength) terrestrial or space-based communications link. The mode of communication employed, e.g., electrical or optical, format of modulation, transmission via a guided structure or free space, is a design choice, and any means for communicating information from one or more transmitters to one or more receivers may be used as a transmission channel in the present invention. Further, a recording/storage device 122_N (e.g., tape drive, hard disk drive, memory, etc.) may be used to record/store the coded transmissions 115_N broadcast from each transmitter 130_N. The recording/storage devices 122 may be used to provide playback of earlier transmitted data when requested.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 1B, the operation of the system 100 begins at 151 when the original source data 105 is supplied to one or more of the transmitters 110. The source data 105 can be in any form or structure, e.g., a data stream, a data file, etc., and may consist of a multiplexed stream of diverse data. The source data 105 may be supplied in a segmented size which is more optimally processed, or the segmentation process may occur within the transmitter and/or receiver structures as described below.

[0038] Subsequently at 152, the supplied source data is encoded into information additive codes, modulated onto a carrier signal (when needed), and transmitted via the primary or secondary channels 120 or 140. In one embodiment, the source data 105 is encoded using a single stage information additive code generator described in the assignee's pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,623 entitled: Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems incorporated by reference. In another embodiment, the source data is encoded using a multi-stage information additive code generator as described in the assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156, entitled: Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, incorporated by reference. Exemplary embodiments of these encoding systems and processes are further described below.

[0039] As shown and described above, the coded transmission 115 may be sent via two or more transmitters 110_1-N in order to provide redundancy, an increased reception rate, or multiple data programs. Alternatively, the coded transmission 115 may be made available to one or more receivers via a secondary channel 140 to provide redundancy. Further alternatively, the second channel 140 may carry a different coded transmission, such as a different source data or session information, further described below.

[0040] The format and size of the coded transmission 115 will vary depending upon the particular data application, transmission channel, and receiver requirements. Possible formats include UDP packets, MPEG data streams, ATM cell streams, serial byte streams, file(s) in a shared storage medium, FDDI data streams or SCSI command and data streams, satellite transmissions, cellular phone transmissions, PCS transmissions, GSM transmissions, HDTV transmissions, or similarly-formatted transport. Further preferably, the coded transmission is composed of atomic medium blocks (AMBs) which are native to, or optimally processed by the transmission channel and/or the receivers 130.

[0041] At 153, the coded transmission 115 is received by one or more of the receivers 130, each receiver 130 configured to recover a copy of the source data 105 therefrom. In one embodiment, the coded transmission 115 is decoded using a single stage information additive code decoded described in the assignee's pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,623 entitled: Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, the coded transmission is decoded using a multi-stage information additive code decoder as described in the assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156, entitled: Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary embodiments of these decoding systems and processes are further described below.

[0042] FIG. 2A illustrates a first embodiment of the transmitter 110, comprising a single stage information additive code transmitter in accordance with the present invention. The term transmitter is used generically to refer to the unit's function, and may comprise a network server, central processing unit or other device from which instructions or data originate, a satellite or terrestrial radio transmitter, network device, or any such unit which is configured to encoded and transmit source data as described herein.

[0043] The single stage transmitter 110 includes an single-stage encoder 210, a protocol converter 220, and a transmit module 230. The single-stage encoder 210 includes an input symbol generator 211, symbol encoder 212, key generator 213, counter 214, stream identifier 215, and a random number generator 216. The single stage encoder 210 and corresponding method of operation are generally as described in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,406 entitled Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, (Luby I) the contents of which is incorporated by reference.

[0044] Input symbol generator 211 generates an ordered sequence of one or more input symbols (IS(0), IS(1), IS(Q), . . . ) from the source data 105, with each input symbol having a value and a position (denoted in FIG. 2A as a parenthesized integer). The possible values for input symbols, i.e., its alphabet, is typically an alphabet of 2^M symbols, so that each input symbol codes for M bits of the input file. The value of M is generally determined by the parameters of the system 100, but a general purpose system might include a symbol size input for input symbol generator 211 so that M can be varied from use to use. The output of input symbol generator 211 is provided to a symbol encoder 212.

[0045] Key generator 213 generates an encoding key for each output symbol to be generated by the symbol encoder 212. Each encoding key is generated according to one of the methods described herein, in Luby I, or any comparable method that insures that a large fraction of the keys generated for the same input file are unique, whether they are generated by this or another key generator. For example, key generator 213 may use a combination of the output of a counter 214, a unique stream identifier 215, and/or the output of a random generator 216 to produce each key. The output of key generator 213 is provided to the symbol encoder 212.

[0046] From each encoding key I provided by key generator 213, encoder 212 generates an output symbol, with a value B(I), from the input symbols provided by the input symbol generator. The value of each output symbol is generated based on its key and on some function of one or more of the input symbols, referred to as the output symbol's associated input symbols. The selection of the function (the value function) and the associates is done according to a process described in Luby I. Typically, but not always, M is the same for input symbols and output symbols, i.e., they both code for the same number of bits. In some embodiments, the number K of input symbols is used by the encoder to select the associates. If K is not known in advance, such as where the input is a streaming file, K can be just an estimate. The value K might also be used by symbol encoder 212 to allocate storage for input symbols.

[0047] The protocol converter 220 receives the output symbols and keys, and formats each to the protocol appropriate for the particular broadcast system. Exemplary broadcast protocols include TCP/IP, UDP/IP, MPEG, Digital Video Broadcast, satellite radio, terrestrial digital radio, as well as other network and/or broadcasting system protocols. In alternative embodiments of the transmitter 110 in which the protocol of the output symbols and keys do not require reformatting, the protocol converter 220 is omitted or bypassed.

[0048] The output symbols and keys are next supplied to the transmit module 230. The transmit module operates to broadcast the output symbols over the primary and/or secondary channels 120 and/or 140, and depending on the keying method used, the transmit module 230 might also transmit some data about the keys of the transmitted output symbols. The transmit module 230 can be any suitable hardware components, software components, physical media, or any combination thereof, so long as it is adapted to transmit output symbols and associated key information. The transmit module may comprise, for example, a multiplexer or a modulator operable to modulate the output symbols and key data onto a carrier signal, front-end electronics to condition the carrier signal as needed, and a signal transmission means, e.g., an antenna, optical lens/telescope, cable modem, network interface card, 802.11x radio card, or other similar devices to transmit the carrier signal, said carrier signal comprising the coded transmission. Any particular modulation format may be used, for instance, OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing), coded OFDM, QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation), CDMA (code division multiple access), QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying), and the like.

[0049] FIG. 2B illustrates a method of converting input symbols into a coded transmission using the single stage transmitter 110 shown in FIG. 2A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Initially at 242, the source data is arranged in an order set of input symbols, a process that is performed by the input symbol generator 211 in one embodiment. Subsequently at 244, a plurality of output symbols B(I₀), B(I₁), etc. are generated from the ordered set of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc., using the above-described symbol encoder 212, key generator 213, counter 214, stream identifier 215, and random number generator 216. In one embodiment, the output symbols are generated as a function of the input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc. and corresponding encoding keys I₀, I₁, etc. In one embodiment, the function is an exclusive-or (XOR) operation, although any arithmetic function may be used in the alternative. Preferably, the number of output symbols is much larger than the number of input symbols in the ordered set. Further preferably, at least one output symbol is generated from more than one, but fewer than all of the input symbols in the ordered set.

[0050] Next at 246, the plurality of output symbols are broadcast over a transmission channel (primary and/or secondary channels 120 and/or 140). In the preferred embodiment, the transmitted output symbols are decodable into the order set of input symbols when the quantity N of the transmitted output symbols are received, where N is greater than one, but much less than the number of possible output symbols.

[0051] FIG. 3A illustrates a second embodiment of the transmitter 110 comprising a multi-stage information additive code transmitter in accordance with the present invention. Multi-stage encoding is particularly useful in the instance in which the recipient joins or leaves the broadcast at times other then the commencement or termination of the broadcast. This scenario occurs frequently in broadcast applications, making the present invention particularly useful.

[0052] Multi-stage transmitter 110 of FIG. 3A is constructed similarly to the single stage transmitter illustrated in FIG. 2A, above, and includes a multi-stage encoder 310, a protocol converter 320 and a transmitter module 330. The protocol converter 320 and transmit module 330 operate in the manner as described above in FIG. 2A. The multi-stage encoder 310 employs a two stage coding scheme as described in the commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156 entitled Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, (referred to as Raptor) incorporated herein by reference.

[0053] During encoder operation, source data 105 is provided to the input symbol generated 311 which, in response, produces an ordered sequence of one or more input symbols IS(0), IS(1), IS(Q), . . . , each input symbol having a value and a position in the manner as described in FIG. 2A. The static key generator 313 produces the stream of static encoding keys in response to a seed value supplied to it by the random number generator 315. The dynamic key generator generates a dynamic encoding key for each output symbol to be generated. Preferably, each dynamic encoding key is generated so that a large fraction of the dynamic keys for the same input file are unique.

[0054] The symbol encoder 312 receives the ordered sequence of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc., a stream of static keys S₀, S₁, etc., and a stream of dynamic keys I₀, I₁, etc, producing, in response, respective output symbols B(I₀), B(I₁), etc. The value of each output symbol is generated based on its key, on some function of one or more of the input symbols, and possibly on one or more redundant symbols that had been computed from the input symbols. The collection of input symbols and redundant symbols which are correlated to a specific output symbol are referred to as being associated with that output symbol. In some embodiments, the number of K input symbols is used by the symbol encoder 312 to select the associated input symbols. If K is not known in advance, such as where the input is a streaming file, K can be estimated. The value of K may be used by the symbol encoder 312 to allocate storage for input symbols and any intermediate symbols generated by the symbol encoder 312.

[0055] FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of the symbol encoder 312 in accordance with the invention. The symbol encoder 312 includes a static encoder 312a, a dynamic encoder 312b, and a redundancy calculator 312c. The static encoder receives the sequence of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc., the number of K input symbols, a respective sequence of static keys S₀, S₁, etc., and a number R of redundant symbols. Responsive to these inputs, static encoder 312a generates a respective sequence of R redundant symbols RE(0), RE(1), etc. In some embodiments, the redundant symbols generated by the static encoder 312a are stored in an input buffer 312d. Input symbol buffer 312d nay be only logical, i.e., the file may be physically stored in one place and the positions of the input symbols within the symbol buffer 312d could only be renamings of the positions of these symbols within the original file.

[0056] The dynamic encoder 312b receivers the sequence of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc., dynamic encoding keys I₀, I₁, etc., and the sequence of redundant symbols RE(0), RE(1), etc. and, in response, generates the output symbols B(I₀), B(I₁), etc. In the embodiment in which the redundant symbols are stored in the input symbol buffer 312d, the dynamic encoder 312b receives the input symbols and redundant symbols from the input buffer 312d. The redundancy calculator 312c is operable to computer the number R of redundant symbols from the number K of input symbols, a process which is further described in the Raptor reference incorporated herein.

[0057] FIG. 3C illustrates a method of converting input symbols into a coded transmission using the multi-stage transmitter 110 shown in FIG. 3A in accordance with the present invention. Initially at 342, the source data is arranged in an order set of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc., a process that is performed by the input symbol generator 311 in one embodiment. Subsequently at 344, a plurality of redundant symbols RE(0), RE(1), etc. are generated as a function of input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc. and corresponding static keys S₀, S₁, etc., as described in FIG. 3B. Next at 346, a plurality of output symbols B(I₀), B(I₁), etc. are generated from a combined set of the input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc. and the redundant symbols RE(0), RE(1), etc., and the output symbols broadcast over a transmission channel (primary and/or secondary channels 120 and/or 140). In the preferred embodiment, the number of output symbols is much greater than the number of symbols in the combined set of input and redundant symbols. Further preferably, at least one output symbol is generated from more than one, but fewer than all of the combined symbols.

[0058] The above-described encoders 210 and 310, protocol converters 220 and 320, and transmit modules 230 and 330 may be each realized in a variety of different forms, such as in hardware, in software/firmware, or a combination of these components. When partially or entirely implemented in software or firmware, the required functionality may be provided by instruction code which controls a computer, microprocessor, or other programmable system to perform the described processes. In such embodiments, the instruction code may be stored on a readable medium such as a hard drive, disk, microprocessor memory, or other such device which is suitable to store the instruction code. Further, encoders 210 and 310, protocol converters 220 and 320, and transmit modules 230 and 330 may collectively integrated in varying degrees, depending upon the particular application. For example in a satellite broadcast application, the multi-stage encoder, protocol converter (if employed), and transmit module may be located within a single appliance at the satellite ground station and/or on-board a spacecraft transceiver. In another embodiment, the encoder and transmit module may be separately located. Those skilled in the art will appreciate integrated systems of varying are envisioned under the present invention.

[0059] The foregoing are only exemplary of the systems and methods for generating and transmitting information additive coded data. Further embodiments are described in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156, entitled Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,623, entitled Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, each incorporated by reference.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, the process of broadcasting data from a transmitter to one or more receivers using information additive codes in accordance with the present invention is subdivided into several sub-processes generally defined as an upload phase, a preparation phase, a transmission phase, a decoding phase, and a storage phase.

[0061] The upload phase is the period in which the data is uploaded onto the encoding server. The encoding server can be any device capable of storing an appropriate amount of data, performing computations on the stored data, and sending the data to one or more clients. In some applications, the upload phase of the data may be negligible, for example when the data is directly created on the transmitting server. In other applications, the upload phase may be substantial, for example when the data is created and stored on an external storage device and has to be transported to the transmitting server.

[0062] Once the upload phase is completed, the data may need to be prepared for encoding. For example, in an information additive coding system as described in Raptor is used, it may be desirable to preprocess the data and compute static encoding symbols before the transmission commences. Where traditional FEC schemes are used, it may sometimes be desirable to compute a part, or all of the encoding symbols before they are transmitted. The phase between the completion of the upload and the commencement of the transmission is referred to as the preparation phase.

[0063] The transmission phase is the period in which encoding symbols are transmitted to the recipient(s). In some cases, encoding may continue during the transmission phase. For example, this could be the case when information additive codes are used. The encoding symbols may be transmitted using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) via unicast, or multicast, if applicable.

[0064] Decoding of the received information may be triggered if some or all of the required number of encoding symbols are received by the client. For example, where information additive coding is used as explained in Luby I or Raptor, the decoding may be triggered when an amount of encoding symbols is received that is slightly larger than the original amount. In other embodiments the decoding may be triggered when a substantially smaller amount of encoding symbols are received. The decoding phase is the period between the commencement of the decoding procedure and the complete recovery of the data, in case of successful decoding, or, if decoding is not possible, an indication that decoding is not possible and termination of the decoding process.

[0065] Once decoding is complete, the data may be stored on a storage device which may be located remotely from the client. For example, the data can be stored on a shared data server so it can be commonly used by a number of users. In that case, the decoded data is transferred to the storage device. The storage phase is the period between the termination of the decoding process, and the commencement of the storage process on an external storage device.

[0066] The upload, preparation, decoding, and storage phase of a data transmission scheme using some form of information additive coding may increase the total transmission time. The time needed for each of these steps may depend substantially on the size of each encoding section (an encoding section is a piece of the data that is being encoded). In some applications, this piece can be the entire data. In other applications, the piece may be substantially smaller.

[0067] The time added to the raw transmission time by the phases of upload, preparation, decoding, and storage can be a small fraction of the total transmission time. This is for example true where the link between the server and the client admits only low speeds, while the link between the storage device and the transmission server as well as the link between the client and the final storage device for the data is very fast, and the computing resources on the transmission server and the client allow for very fast preparation and decoding.

[0068] In some cases the additional time spent for upload, preparation, decoding, and storage make up a substantial fraction of the total transmission time. For example, in a transmission scenario where the data to be transmitted resides on a server different from the transmission server, and the link between the transmission server and the storage server is a 100 megabit per second (Mbps) link, then the upload time for a file of size 500 megabytes (MB) is 40 seconds. If the speed of the preparation phase is also 100 Mbps, then the preparation phase also requires 40 seconds. If the link between the transmitting server and the client admits a transmission rate of 50 Mbps, and the data is sent to the client via UDP without employing rate control, then the transmission time of the file is at least 80/(1-p) seconds, wherein p is a real number between 0 and 1 indicating the percentage of symbols lost during transmission. For example, if p is 1%, then the transmission time is at least 80.81 seconds. If the speed of the decoding is also 100 Mbps, then the decoding step requires 40 seconds as well. Assuming that the client may be able to transmit the decoded file to the external storage device at a speed of 100 Mbps, the storage phase adds an additional 40 seconds to the transmission time. If encoding is not performed substantially concurrently with the uploading, decoding is not performed substantially concurrently with the reception, and storage is not performed substantially concurrently with the decoding, then the various phases of the transmission add up to 240.81 seconds, of which only 80.81 seconds is the real transmission. The raw transmission time is increased by a factor of almost 3. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, a system and process is useful in reducing the aforementioned upload, preparation, decoding, and storage processes.

[0069] FIG. 4A illustrates a simplified block diagram of an improved encoder 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The improved encoder 400 includes a control unit 402, a cache unit 410 and an encoding engine previously described as the single or multi-stage encoders 210 or 310, respectively.

[0070] The cache unit 410 is operable to retrieve parts of the data 105 and provide it to the encoding engine 210/310 for encoding. The size of the parts retrieved constitutes the size of a section encoded by the encoding engine, and may be communicated to the control unit 402 which forwards the information to the client via the out-of-band communication.

[0071] In one embodiment, encoding is performed on a part of the data 105, while another part is retrieved into cache unit 410. Various types of resources needed for performing the encoding scale with the size of the encoding section. Such resources may include computational resources, and memory resources. By reducing the size of each encoding section, the total demand for resources on the server decreases.

[0072] FIG. 4B illustrates a first embodiment of the improved encoder 400 in accordance with the present invention, with previously identified features retaining their reference numerals. As shown, the cache unit 410 includes an upload unit 412, and two data buffers 414 and 416, the size of which is chosen so that each holds two consecutive segments S(n) and S(n1) of the data 105. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any number and/or size of buffers may be chosen in other embodiments of the invention.

[0073] During operation, the data file or stream is subdivided into sections S(1), S(2), etc. If data 105 refers to a stream, not all of the sections may be available at the time of transmission. In the following descriptions of whether an operation is performed on a section, it is implicitly assumed that the section is available at the time when the operation is performed. If not, the operation will wait for the section to become available.

[0074] In one embodiment the sizes of all sections, except possibly the last, are equal. In another embodiment, the sizes of the different section may be substantially different. In one embodiment, the size of each section can be computed by the upload unit 412 and communicated to the control unit 402 and the encoding engine 210/310. In another embodiment the size of the sections can be selected by the operator and communicated to the control unit 402 and encoding engine 210/310. In another embodiment, the size of the sections can be selected by the operator and communicated to cache unit 810, for example via an application program interface (API). In yet another embodiment, the control unit 410 computes the sections sizes and communicates it to the upload unit 412, and the encoding engine 210/310.

[0075] After determining the size of each section, the upload unit 412 retrieves the first section S(1) of the data 105 and stores it in the buffer 816. Once storage is complete, that section is forwarded to the encoding engine 210/310 for encoding. At the same time, the next section S(2) is retrieved and put into the buffer 414. The encoding engine 210/310 generates encoded data for the first section. It may terminate the process when instructed by the control unit 402. The same termination message may also be sent to the upload unit 412. At this point, the upload unit 412 may forward the contents of buffer 414 to the encoding engine, retrieve section S(3) from the data 105, and put it into buffer 416. The encoding engine continues generating encoded data for S(2) until instructed by the control unit 402 to stop. In general, one the encoding engine 210/310 and upload unit 412 receive an instruction from the control unit 402 to terminate encoding section S(n1), section S(n) is forwarded to the encoding engine and section S(n1) is retrieved from data 105 and buffered. The process may continue indefinitely, or until it is instructed by the operator or other external signal to stop, or continue until all of the data 105 has been transmitted.

[0076] In one embodiment in which the recipient wishes to receive only parts of the data 105 exactly, some sections of data 105 may be transmitted without coding, while others may be coded. For example, where data 105 corresponds to a live stream, and the source coding method used for digitization allows for layering the data into parts of various levels/sections, such an embodiment could be used to encode the some levels/sections while sending other levels/sections without coding.

[0077] FIG. 4C illustrates a second embodiment of the improved encoder 400, comprising a multiple engine encoder. The multiple-engine encoder 400 is comprised of two engines E1 and E2, embodiments of which are described in FIGS. 2A and 3A above. While two encoding engines are shown, a larger number of engines may be used in alternative embodiments under the present invention.

[0078] Upon initiating a download, the cache unit 410 fetches the first section S(1) and forwards it to encoding engine E1 for encoding. At the same time, it fetches S(2), and forwards it to encoding engine E2 for preparation of encoding. Encoding engine E2 could also start encoding section S(2) and storing encoding information into a buffer for future transmission. Once the done message for section S(1) is received by control unit 402, it may instruct the encoding engine E1 and the upload unit 412 to drop Section S(1). Upon receiving this request, the upload unit 412 instructs E2 to start encoding section S(2); alternatively, if encoding information has already been generated, it could be supplied to the protocol converter (if required) and subsequently to the transmit module. At the same time, section S(3) is fetched from data 105, stored in buffer 415, and forwarded to encoding engine E2. Similarly, encoding engine E2 prepares section S(3) for encoding, or, in case of availability of memory, starts encoding section S(3) and storing encoding information into a buffer for future transmission. In general, encoding engine E2 encodes sections with an even index 2n, and encoding engine E1 encodes sections with an odd index 2n1, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Once section S(2n1) is finished, encoding engine E2 starts encoding section S(2n), and the upload unit 812 fetches section S(2n1) (if it exists) and forwards it to encoding engine E1 for preparation for encoding. Similarly, once section S(2n) is finished, encoding engine E1 starts encoding section S(2n1), and the cache unit fetches section S(2n2) and forwards it to encoding engine E2 for preparation for encoding.

[0079] The foregoing example is for illustrative purposes only, and additional buffers may be used in alternative embodiments under the present invention. For example, in the case of three buffers, the first one would be used to produce encoding symbols for section S(3n2), while the second one would be used to prepare section S(3n1) for encoding, and at the same time, section S(3n) would be uploaded into the third data buffer. The larger number of buffers may lead to a further decrease of upload, preparation, and decoding times.

[0080] As mentioned above, the size of the sections S(1), S(2), . . . depends on a number of parameters. On the one hand, the sections should not be chosen too small, since this may lead to inefficiencies in the transmission. For example, where the channel has a round trip time (RTT) of 250 milliseconds (ms). Then each section is served for 250 ms longer than is needed. If the channel has a bandwidth of 10 Mbps, then this translates to 320 kilobytes (KB). If the section size is less than this amount, then at least 50% of the bandwidth in channel 155 is wasted. To keep the wasted bandwidth at 1% or less, the section size needs to be more than 31 megabytes (MB).

[0081] In some embodiments of the present invention, the delay incurred by late reception of the done message may be substantially reduced by transmitting a section at a rate that varies over time. The exact variation of the transmission rates depends on the application. In one embodiment, the rate at which the first section is served could decrease over time, and at the same time, the rate at which the second section is transmitted is increased over time. Once the done message for the first section is received, the first section is dropped and the process is continued with sections 2 and 3, and so forth. The number of sections served substantially concurrently is not limited by two, but could take on any value, as long as the resources on the server would allow that.

[0082] While very small section sizes may lead to transmission inefficiencies, sections of too large a size could lead to a waste of server and client resources, and could add an additional delay to the transmission. For example, suppose that the data transmitted is a data of size 500 MB, that the section size is 50 MB, that the connection between a server and a storage device storing the data has a bandwidth of 100 Mbps, that the preparation speed for the section is also 100 Mbps, and that the connection between client and the storage device storing the data has a bandwidth of 100 Mbps. Then the total transmission time for the data is equal to the time to upload, prepare, decode, and store one section, plus the time needed for the transmission of the entire data. With 1% loss, the latter equals 80.81 seconds, and the former equals 16 seconds, leading to a total transmission time of 96.81 seconds. If the section size is 100 MB, then the delay caused by uploading, preparing, decoding, and storing a section is proportionally larger and equal to 32 seconds, leading to a total transmission time of 112.81 seconds.

[0083] Large sections could also add to the amount of memory used by the server and by the client. For reasons of speed, it is advantageous to perform the encoding and decoding operations in the Random Access Memory (RAM) or other fast access memory devices on the server and on the client, rather than reading from and writing to disk. In such an embodiment, the server and the client preferably include enough memory to store at least the amount of two sections. To keep the memory resources low, the section sizes need thus to be chosen appropriately.

[0084] Various methods can be used to decrease the memory requirements on the server and on the client. On the client side one embodiment of such a method is the following: while decoding the section S(n1), the space freed by the decoded content is used to store incoming encoded information about section S(n). Under favorable conditions with respect to the decoding speed and the transmission speed, the memory requirement for the client side can be decreased by a factor of 2. Other methods using sophisticated interleaving techniques similar to those in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,573 can be employed to reduce the memory requirements on the server and the client side, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying this document and its references.

[0085] In one embodiment of the present application the section sizes are chosen to have different sizes. For example, where the server can upload data faster than it can transmit, it is possible to use section sizes that grow over time to facilitate faster start up times on the server. For example, the methods provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/768,843, filed Jan. 23, 2001 and entitled Methods and Apparatus for Scheduling, Serving, Receiving Media-on-Demand For Clients, Servers Arranged According to Constraints and Resources (referred to as MOD) may be used to compute various section sizes and scheduling algorithms for their activation. The different section sizes can also be used to support multiple clients that experience different fractions of losses. For example, recipients could select which sections to receive in a similar way as described in MOD, except that only a limited number of sections are serving at the same time. Then the fact that the section sizes are growing improves the chances that multiple recipients receive concurrently from the same sections towards the end of the transmission. In particular, in a configuration where the recipients start receiving at the same time, if recipients have a maximum loss rate, then the section size growth can be calculated to ensure that at any point in time only a small number of sections needs to be served concurrently.

[0086] For example, in a case where the next section size is a factor of larger than the previous one, with being a real number larger than or equal to one, and where each client experiences a maximum loss rate of 20%, then if is chosen to be at least 1.25, and the sections are transmitted using a chain reaction coding system or a traditional FEC code with a rate of at most 0.8, and where the clients commence the download at the same time, then it can be shown that the server needs to only broadcast two sections at a time to ensure that all clients receive the entire content. The results of MOD can be used to obtain good sectioning schemes in scenarios where the server resources or the client resources, e.g., memory or CPU speed, are constrained.

[0087] In applications where the transmission and delivery of a live data stream is desired, the aforementioned encoding processes may be modified or augmented in order to reduce latency in the coding and decoding processes. Specific systems and methods for reducing latency are described in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,573 entitled Systems and Methods for Reliably Communicating the Content of a Live Data Stream, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0088] FIG. 5A illustrates a general encoding process which may be used in system broadcasting live streaming data. Initially, the live data stream is partitioned into time-ordered segments S₀, S₁, S₂, . . . with common duration t seconds and common length K AMBs. (The live data stream may not naturally be in the same format as the transmission medium, but we may use the same units without loss of generality.) The data partitioning may include those processes described in FIGS. 8A-C below.

[0089] Subsequently, an FEC (forward error/erasure correction) code, such as information additive coding, is applied separately to each S_i, the output of the code denoted E_i. Each E_i has length N AMBs. The N AMBs for E₀ are transmitted on the medium, followed by the N AMBs for E₁, etc. At the time when segment S_i is to be recovered, some fraction of the AMBs of E_i are available. The FEC code guarantees that if L of the AMBs are available, S_i can be recovered. The value of L is a property of the particular coding employed. Reed-Solomon codes have the desirable property that LK; however, the complexity of decoding necessitates small values for K and N. Information additive codes as described in Luby I and Raptor have L slightly larger than K and low complexity of decoding.

[0090] FIG. 5B illustrates a specific embodiment for encoding process for a live data stream in accordance with the present invention. The process begins at 571, when the first segment S₀ containing first segment data is received. Next at 572, a forward error correction algorithm is applied to the first segment data to produce a first transmit block T₀ containing the FEC-encoded first segment data. In a specific embodiment, the FEC employed is information additive codes, as described and incorporated herein. In the signal timing diagram of FIG. 5C, the applied forward error correction coding outputs the FEC-encoded segment data after all of the first segment data is received. In an alternative embodiment, the FEC-encoded data is produced as the segment data is being received.

[0091] At 573, first transmit block T₀ is sub-divided into two or more blocks. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5C, the first transmit block T₀ is sub-divided into three blocks T_0a, T_0b, and T_0c. In the preferred embodiment, sub-blocks T_0a, T_0b, and T_0c each comprise distinct data, i.e., they contain minimal, if any, common data. Next at 574, a first of the two or more sub-blocks is transmitted on a first main sub-channel. As shown in FIG. 5C, the first sub-block T_0a is transmitted on a first main sub-channel 506M₁.

[0092] Next at 575, the second segment S₁ containing first segment data is received. A forward error correction algorithm is subsequently applied to the second segment data to produce a first transmit block T₁ containing the FEC-encoded second segment data (process 576). At 577, the second transmit block T₁ is sub-divided into two or more blocks, which, in FIG. 5C consists of three blocks T_1a, T_1b, and T_1c. As above, sub-blocks T_1a, T_1b, and T_1c each preferably comprise distinct data.

[0093] At 578, the second sub-block T_0b is transmitted on the first main sub-channel 506M₁ substantially concurrent with the transmission of the first sub-block T_1a on the second main sub-channel 506M₁. At 579, there is the concurrent transmission of T_1a on the first booster sub-channel 506B₁ and T_0b on the second booster sub-channel 506B₂.

[0094] As the signal timing diagram of FIG. 5C illustrates, the aforementioned process may be repeated for additionally received segments S₂-S₇, in which each segment is received, forward error corrected to a transmit block T_2-7, each transmit block divided into two or more sub-blocks, and the sub-blocks transmitted on the main and booster sub-channels as shown. In the preferred embodiment, the number of sub-divided blocks determines the number of receiver and booster sub-channels, the total bandwidth of which equals the reception rate 509.

[0095] In the particular embodiment of FIG. SC, a first sub-block sequence, T_ia, i.e., T_1a, T₂a, T_3a . . . is transmitted along the first booster sub-channel 506B₁. As further illustrated, the first sub-block transmit sequence one block delayed, i.e., T_0a, T_1a, T_2a, T_3a, . . . is transmitted along the second booster sub-channel 506B₂ The third booster channel 506B₃ transmits a second sub-block sequence T_ib, i.e., T_ob, T_1b, T_2b, T_3b, . . . A receiver in the system may have sufficient bandwidth to simultaneously monitor both the main channel 506M and the booster channel 506B. In another embodiment, the receiver channel is limited, for example, by its particular design, by network congestion, or by signal interference to monitor only one channel. In the latter case, the receiver is preferably configured to monitor the booster channel 506B initially, and can switch its reception to receive transmits blocks T_i either on the booster channel 506B or on the main channel 506M.

[0096] During reception, the receiver listens to the booster channel 506B for the first transmit blocks, which consists of T_0a, T_0b and T_1a in the time slot 554. The receiver subsequently switches to the main channel 510 to receive transmit blocks T_0c, T_1b, T_2a during the next transmit slot 555. The corresponding pieces of the received sub-divided data are assembled, e.g., T_0c, T_1b & T_1c, T_2a, . . . and FEC-decoded to recover the corresponding segment data. As illustrated, transmissions over the first and second time slots 554 and 555 will result in two-thirds of the second transmit block T₁ data being recovered (T_1a & T_1b), which may be sufficient to recover the data contained within corresponding segment block S₁. As the process continues in time slots 556 and beyond, the later occurring transmit sub-blocks T_2i, T_3i, etc. will be received, the transmit blocks T₂, T₃, etc. reconstructed, and the data contained within their corresponding segments S₂, S₃ recovered.

[0097] The foregoing is only exemplary of the systems and methods for processing information additive codes for transmission and reception. Further embodiments are described in the commonly assigned application U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,573 entitled Systems and Methods for Reliably Communicating the Content of a Live Data Stream, incorporated herein by reference.

[0098] FIG. 6A illustrates a first embodiment of the receiver 130, comprising a single stage information additive code receiver in accordance with the present invention. The term receiver is used generically to refer to the unit's function, and may comprise a network client, computer peripheral, a radio, PCMCIA card, cable modem, satellite radio receiver, network device, a GPS-based car navigation receiver, set-top-box, home network gateway, or any such unit which is configured to receive and process the coded information as described herein.

[0099] The receiver 130 functions complementary to the single-stage transmitter of FIG. 2A above and includes a receive module 610, a protocol converter 620, and a single-stage decoder 630. The receive module 610 is operable to receive the coded transmission 115 and recover therefrom the output symbols and, when present, data as to the transmitted keys. The receive module 610 comprises that hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof needed to carry out these functions and may comprise, for example, a signal collection means (e.g., an antenna, optical lens/telescope, cable modem, network interface card, 802.11x radio card, etc.), front-end electronics, and a demodulator to recover the output symbols and key data.

[0100] The protocol converter 620 receives the output symbols and key data, and formats each to the protocol appropriate for the particular receiver system. Exemplary receiver protocols include TCP/IP, UDP/IP, MPEG2-TS, or other network or communication system protocols. In alternative embodiments in which the protocol of the recovered output symbols and key data do not require reformatting, the protocol converter 620 is omitted or bypassed.

[0101] The single stage decoder 630 and corresponding method of operation are generally as described in Luby I, the contents of which is incorporated by reference. As shown, a key regenerator 631 receives key data and regenerates the keys for the received output symbols. Symbol decoder 632 uses the keys provided by key regenerator 660 together with the corresponding output symbols, to recover the input symbols (i.e., IS(0), IS(I), IS(2), etc). Symbol decoder 632 provides the recovered input symbols to an input file reassembler 633, which generates a copy of input file or stream 105.

[0102] FIG. 6B illustrates a method of recovering input symbols from a coded transmission using the receiver shown in FIG. 6A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. At 652, the receiver receives one or more output symbols, each output symbol being generated from one or more input symbols from an order set of input symbols. Preferably, at least one output symbol is generated from a set of at least two, but fewer than all of the input symbols in the ordered set of input symbols. Further preferably as described above, the number of possible output symbols is much greater than the number of input symbols in the ordered set. At 654, the ordered set of input symbols is regenerated from a received set of N output symbols. Preferably, N is greater than one, but much smaller than the number of input symbols in the ordered set.

[0103] FIG. 7A illustrates a second embodiment of the receiver 130 comprising a multi-stage information additive code receiver in accordance with the present invention. The receiver 130 functions complementary to the transmitter of FIG. 3A and is constructed similarly to the single stage receiver illustrated in FIG. 4A above. The multi-stage receiver 130 similarly includes a receive module 710, a protocol converter 720, and a multi-stage decoder 730. The receive module 710 and protocol converter 720 operate in much the manner as described above in FIG. 6A. The multi-stage decoder 730 employs a two stage coding scheme as described in the Raptor, incorporated herein by reference.

[0104] During decoder operation, key data information is provide to the dynamic key regenerator 731, which in response, regenerates dynamic keys I_a, I_b, etc. The static key generator 733 produces static keys S₀, S₁, etc. in response to a seed value supplied to it by the random number generator 734. Output symbols B(I₀), B(I₁), etc., dynamic keys I_a, I_b, etc., static keys S₀, S₁, etc., and values K and R are provided to the symbol decoder 732 which, in response, produces input symbols IS(0), IS(1), etc. The input symbols are supplied to a data reassembler 735 which reconstructs substantially a copy of the original data file or stream.

[0105] FIG. 7B illustrates one embodiment of the symbol decoder 732 in accordance with the invention. The symbol decoder 732 includes a dynamic decoder 732a, a static decoder 732b, and a reconstruction buffer 732c. The dynamic decoder 732a receives the output symbols B(I_a), B(I_b), etc. and the dynamic keys I_a, I_b, etc. In response, the symbol decoder 732 attempts to reconstruct the input symbols IS(0)-IS(K1) and redundant symbols RE(0)-RE(R1). Input and redundant symbols recovered by the dynamic decoder 732a are stored in the reconstruction buffer 732c. Upon completion of dynamic decoding, the static decoder 732b attempts to recover any input symbols not recovered by the dynamic decoder 732a. In particular, the static decoder 732b receives input and redundant symbols from the reconstruction buffer 732c, and static keys S₀, S₁, etc. from the static key generator. The recovered input symbols stored in the reconstruction buffer 732c are supplied to the input data assembler 735.

[0106] FIG. 7C illustrates a method of recovering input symbols from a coded transmission using the receiver shown in FIG. 7A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. At 752, the receiver receives one or more output symbols, each output symbol being generated from one or more symbols from a combined set of input symbols and redundant symbols. Preferably, at least one output symbol is generated from a set of at least two, but fewer than all of the symbols in the combined set of input and redundant symbols. Further preferably as described above, the number of possible output symbols is much greater than the number of symbols in the combined set of input and redundant symbols. At 754, at least a subset of the combined set of input and redundant symbols is regenerated from a received set of N output symbols, whereby the combined set includes regenerated input symbols and regenerated redundant symbols. At 746, some of the unregenerated input symbols may be regenerated from regenerated redundant and input symbols if the previous step 754 does not result in the regeneration of the input symbols to a predefined degree of accuracy.

[0107] As described above with respect to the broadcast transmitter embodiments, the receive modules, protocol converters, and decoders may each be realized in a variety of different forms, such as in hardware, in software/firmware, or a combination of these components and in varying degrees of integration, depending upon the particular application.

[0108] The foregoing are only exemplary of the systems and methods for receiving and decoding information additive coded data. Further embodiments are described in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156, entitled Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,623, entitled Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems, each incorporated by reference.

[0109] In one embodiment of the receiver's decoding processing, decoding starts by identifying an output symbol of degree one. The term output symbol of degree one refers to an output symbol associated with only one source (i.e., input) symbol. Similarly, an output symbol associated with two source symbols would be referred to as an output symbol of degree two. Source symbols are referred to in a similar manner corresponding to the number of output symbols each source symbol is associated with. An output symbol and an input symbol are described as associated if the value of the input symbol is used to obtain the value of the output symbol. The mathematical operation which defines this association may be any particular operation, and in one embodiment, the output symbol's value is the XOR of the values of some of the source symbols.

[0110] Once the output symbol of degree one is identified, the associated source symbol is recovered and is removed from the decoding process. The process continues by identifying another output symbol of degree one. The process is continued until all the source symbols are recovered, or until there is no output symbol of degree one.

[0111] This decoding process may encounter difficulty when no output symbol of degree one is found. In some instances, the decoding process may stop prematurely and the decoder may flag an error. Alternatively, the decoder may use other more elaborate algorithms like Gaussian elimination to complete decoding, if possible. However, the running time of Gaussian elimination may be prohibitively large for applications where fast decoding is desired, especially when the number of unrecovered input symbols at the time when no more output symbols of degree one are found is large. This would lead to a decoding algorithm whose computational overhead is substantially larger than the information additive decoder, and may therefore be undesirable in certain applications.

[0112] FIG. 8A illustrates a method for decoding the information additive codes using inactivation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The processes included in the exemplary decoding routine 800 include a start-up process 810, a source symbol selection and deactivation process 820, and a source (i.e., input) symbol value recovery process 830. These processes are described in greater detail in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,370 entitled Systems and Methods for Decoding Chain Reaction Codes Through Inactivation, which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0113] FIG. 8B illustrates one embodiment of the start-up process 810 illustrated in FIG. 8A. Initially at 811, a determination is made as to whether any output symbols of degree one are present. If so, the source (i.e., input) symbol associated with the output symbol is recovered at 812. The process then returns to 811, where a subsequent determination is made as to whether any other output symbols of degree one remain in the code. If at 811 no output symbols of degree one remain, the process proceeds to the source symbol selection and deactivation process 820.

[0114] FIG. 8C illustrates one embodiment of the source symbol selection and deactivation process 820 illustrated in FIG. 8A. Initially at 821, an active source symbol is selected which is associated with an output symbol of degree two or higher (i.e., an output symbol associated with two or more source symbols). The manner by which a particular source symbol is selected from among a number of similar source symbols is described in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,370. Next at 822, the particular source symbol selected is deactivated. Subsequently at 823, a determination is made as to whether any output symbols of degree one exist for decoding. In some embodiments, the preceding deactivation will produce one or more output symbols of degree one. In other embodiments, the preceding deactivation will not result in an output symbol of degree one. In the later case, the process repeats the process of 821-823.

[0115] If the deactivation process of 822 does result in the production of one or more output symbols of degree one, the process continues at 824 where one of the source symbol associated with an output symbol of degree one is declared recoverable. The process then returns to 823 where a determination is made as to whether any additional output symbols of degree one remain. The processes of 823 and 824 are repeated until all of the output symbols of degree one produced by the preceding deactivation process are declared recoverable.

[0116] If the deactivation of the selected source symbol at 822 does not result in the an output symbol of degree one, or once all of the output symbols of degree one are declared recoverable at 824, the process continues from 823 to 825, where a determination is made as to whether any source symbols associated with output symbols of degree two or higher remain. If so, the process returns to 821 where another active source symbol of degree two or higher is selected, deactivated, and the presence of output symbols of degree one is checked. One or more iterations of the processes may occur, for instance, where the deactivation of a first source symbol of degree two or higher does not result in an output symbol of degree one, but additional source symbols of degree two (or higher) remain. In this case, the subsequent deactivation of another source symbol of degree two (or higher) may produce one or more output symbols of degree one. The process repeats until all source symbols have been either been recovered (via the start-up process 810), deactivated (via 822), or declared recoverable (via 825), at which point the process proceeds to the source symbol value recovery process 830.

[0117] FIG. 8D illustrates one embodiment of the source symbol recovery process 830 illustrated in FIG. 8A. Initially at 832, the values of one or more source symbols deactivated in 822 are recovered. In a specific embodiment, for instance in which Gaussian elimination is used in the decoding process, all values of deactivated source symbols are recovered in this process. Subsequently at 834, the values of one or more source symbols declared recoverable in process 825 are determined using the recovered values of the deactivated source symbols. In one implementation, such as the aforementioned in which Gaussian elimination is used, the values of all recoverable source symbols are determined in this process. In alternative embodiments of 832 and 634, the values of one or more, but fewer than all of the recoverable source symbols are determined. This may be advantageous when, for reasons of necessity, expediency, cost, etc., a complete decoding of the information additive code is not required or possible.

[0118] The foregoing is only exemplary of the systems and methods for decoding information additive codes through deactivation. Further embodiments are described in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,370 entitled Systems and Processes for Decoding Chain Reaction Codes Through Inactivation, incorporated by reference.

[0119] In a particular embodiment of the invention, receivers are informed as to future broadcast transmissions via session description data. Session description data may include a description of the upcoming transmission, the expected day/time of the transmission, and file size of the transmission. The session description data may be communicated on a dedicated announcement channel within the broadcast system (for example, the secondary channel or a channel similar thereto), or it may be multiplexed with the source data along the primary channel.

[0120] In another embodiment, source data belonging to a previous data file/stream is broadcast in order to allow those receivers which did not obtain the threshold quantity of coded transmission to recover the previous data file/stream. Coded transmissions corresponding to a previous program may be broadcast on a separate channel (perhaps at a low data rate so as not to too greatly reduce the data rate of the primary and/or announcement channels), or it may be multiplexed with the source and/or announcement data.

[0121] As noted above, the properties of the information additive codes are ideally suited for many broadcast applications, the requirements of which have been only minimally met by present day systems. Conventional broadcast systems which disseminate large data files using a data carousel protocol suffer from protracted transmission periods, as signal transmission must be repeated until a high probability exists that most terminals has received each specific segment of data. When it is considered that the receiving terminal may be intermittently-available (e.g., a car which stops receiving when the ignition is switched off, or which looses signal reception within a tunnel), an even longer broadcast period must be undertaken.

[0122] Broadcast systems employing information additive coding avoids these shortcomings, as one of the code's properties is that only a threshold quantity of code segments need be decoded in order to recover the entire encoded file. The receiving terminal need only receive a particular threshold amount of data to recover the file, and data received during any reception period will contribute toward that threshold. As a result, broadcast time to these terminals is substantially reduced.

[0123] Current in-car global positioning satellite (GPS) systems combine satellite positioning information with a DVD-based database. These databases include maps, routing information, and Point-of-Interest (POI) information data, including for example, retail and services information. Updates as to routing and POI information must be constantly communicated to drivers if the navigational system is to be relied upon. Further, in-car navigation systems represent a primary platform for receiving large information and entertainment files such as current weather reports, audible books, movies, or information useful for the driver and passengers. Accordingly, in-car navigation systems operable to support these services would provide substantial value.

[0124] FIG. 9A illustrates one embodiment of the present invention comprising a satellite system 900 for broadcasting data, such as the aforementioned data and/or entertainment services, to a large number of vehicle-based terminals 920. The system 900 includes two transmitters, 906 being a satellite-based transmitter, and 916 being a terrestrial-based transmitter. Satellite-based transmitter 110a includes a server 902 which includes the above-described encoder 210/310 (and protocol converter 220/320 if needed), a satellite uplink 904, and a broadcast satellite 906 configured to communicate data to vehicles within a first coverage area 930. The terrestrial-based transmitter 110b includes a second server 912 which also includes the aforementioned encoder 210/310 (and protocol converter 220/320 if needed), a transmission line 914, and a broadcast tower 916 operable to provide the coded transmission to vehicles within a second coverage area 940. The complementary use of terrestrial broadcast towers or other communication means may be advantageous to cover gaps or provide coverage in those areas where satellite coverage may be unable to reach. Coverage areas 930 and 940 are shown as overlapping, although gaps may exist between coverage areas in alternative embodiments under the present invention.

[0125] Several vehicles 920 are located within the coverage areas 930 and 940. Vehicles 920₁ and 920₂ are in motion within coverage area 930 and receive the coded transmission 115a from the satellite-based transmitter 110a at the data rate provided thereby. Vehicle 920₃ is parked with its ignition switched off, and as a result may not receive the coded transmission 115a. Optionally, Vehicle 9203 includes a power supply which continues supplying power to its receiver, thereby permitting it to continue receiving the coded transmission when parked. Vehicle 920₄ is located in the overlapping regions of 930 and 940. Vehicle 920₅ is within the second coverage area receiving the coded transmission 115b at its transmission rate.

[0126] Each of the transmitters 110 may comprise a single or multi-stage encoders as described in FIGS. 2A or 3A, respectively. In addition, the pre-encoding data segmenting process described in FIGS. 8A-8C may be employed. Each of the receivers preferably includes a decoder of the same type (i.e., single or multi-stage) used in the system's transmitter. Further, the decoder may employ the inactivation process as described above. In a particular embodiment, the receiver is powered by a 12 Vdc supply of other voltage supply provided by the vehicles battery, and is integrated within the navigation receiver. The receiver may include software executed within a flash-based microprocessor/microcontroller which controls the navigation system to perform the reception, protocol conversion and data decoding functions as described herein.

[0127] FIG. 9B illustrates another embodiment of the present invention comprising a system for broadcasting live streaming data to a large number of mobile handset terminals. Live data may consist of news, financial information such as a stock ticker, a live sporting event, or some such similar content.

[0128] The system 950 includes a server 952 comprising an encoder (and protocol converter, if necessary), a communications backbone 954, and communication towers 956_x (956₃ shown as temporarily inoperable). Mobile terminals 958_x may be cellular telephones, computers able to receive the coded transmission 115 wirelessly via 802.11x radio cards, personal digital assistants, or other similar wireless mobile terminals. The system 950 further includes a secondary channel 959, shown as a USB (universal serial bus) connection to which mobile terminal 958₃ connects to receive the coded transmission 115. As above the encoder may comprise the single or multi-stage encoder, and preferably includes the post-encoding data interleaving and partitioning processes described for live streaming applications in FIGS. 7A-7C above. Further, the encoding processes may include the pre-encoding data segmenting process to further decrease transmission delay.

[0129] Mobile receivers 958,will preferably employ decoders (single or multi-stage) matched to their system's encoder. In some embodiments, the decoding process will include the symbol deactivation processes described in FIGS. 6A-D. The mobile handset may include software executed within a flash-based microprocessor which controls the handset to perform the reception, protocol conversion and data decoding functions as described herein.

[0130] While the aforementioned receivers have been described as mobile, in other embodiments the terminals will be stationary, for instance, where the receiver loses signal reception intermittently due to its location on the boundary of a covered area, or failure or relative movement of the broadcasting source. Further, the systems and methods of the present invention may be used to facilitate communication between any type of transmitter and receiver, not only to those receivers characterized as intermittently available. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the features of the present invention can be equally and advantageously applied to receiving systems which are configured to continuously receive data, as well as to any broadcast system in which highly efficient communication to multiple receivers is desired.

[0131] The following references are herein incorporated in their entirety for all purposes:

[0132] U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,406 entitled Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems;

[0133] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/768,843, entitled Methods and Apparatus for Scheduling, Serving, Receiving Media-on-Demand For Clients, Servers Arranged According to Constraints and Resources;

[0134] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/032,156, entitled Multi-stage Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems;

[0135] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,623, entitled Information Additive Code Generator and Decoder for Communication Systems;

[0136] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,573, entitled Systems and Methods for Reliably Communicating the Content of a Live Data Stream; and

[0137] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,370, entitled Systems and Processes for Decoding Chain Reaction Codes Through Inactivation.

[0138] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.