Forward error correction using source blocks with symbols from at least two datastreams with synchronized start symbol identifiers among the datastreams

A forward error correction decoder comprising:

• an input configured to receive a repair stream including repair symbols relative to an enhancement layer datastream and a base layer datastream to be forward error corrected, wherein each of the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream includes a plurality of symbols, and the symbols in the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream are grouped together in order to form forward error correction (FEC) source blocks, wherein a repair symbol is generated based on a FEC source block using Layer-Aware Forward Error Correction, and wherein the symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream have an incremental ID which is synchronized so that as to start with a common symbol ID for each FEC source block, which is equal over the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream;
• wherein
• the forward error correction decoder includes an electronic circuit or a processor configured to, or a computer programmed to:
• analyze a signaling information within a repair symbol or linked therewith, the signaling information including:
• the common symbol ID of the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, the common symbol ID equally indicating a first start symbol within the enhancement layer datastream and a second start symbol within the base layer datastream,
• a first length information for a number of symbols within the enhancement layer datastream, starting with the first start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block, and
• a second length information for a number of symbols within the base layer datastream, starting with the second start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block;
• and
• collect symbols within the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream belonging to the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated within which the signaling information is or with which the signaling information is linked, using the signaling information.

A method for generating forward error correction data, the method comprising:

• receiving an enhancement layer datastream and a base layer datastream for which forward error correction data shall be generated, wherein each of the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream includes a plurality of symbols;
• grouping symbols in the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream together in order to form forward error correction (FEC) source blocks;
• using Layer-Aware Forward Error Correction (LA-FEC) to generate a repair symbol based on a FEC source block, wherein the symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream have an incremental ID that is synchronized to start with a common symbol ID for each FEC source block, which is equal over the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream;
• and
• generating signaling information for a repair symbol regarding which symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream belong to the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, so that the signaling information is included into the repair symbol or linked therewith and so that the signaling information includes:
• the common symbol ID of the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, the common symbol ID equally indicating a first start symbol within the enhancement layer datastream and a second start symbol within the base layer datastream,
• a first length information for a number of symbols within the enhancement layer datastream, starting with the first start symbol,that belong to the FEC source block, and
• a second length information for a number of symbols within the base layer datastream, starting with the second start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block,
• wherein at least one of the receiving, grouping, using and generating is implemented using an electronic circuit, a processor or a computer.

A method for forward error correction decoding, the method comprising:

• receiving a repair stream including repair symbols relative to an enhancement layer datastream and a base layer datastream to be forward error corrected, wherein each of the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream includes a plurality of symbols, and the symbols in the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream are grouped together in order to form forward error correction (FEC) source blocks, wherein a repair symbol is generated based on a FEC source block using Layer-Aware Forward Error Correction, and wherein the symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream have an incremental ID which is synchronized so that as to start with a common symbol ID for each FEC source block, which is equal over the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream;
• analyzing a signaling information within a repair symbol or linked therewith, the signaling information including:
• the common symbol ID of the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, the common symbol ID equally indicating a first start symbol within the enhancement layer datastream and a second start symbol within the base layer datastream,
• a first length information for a number of symbols within the enhancement layer datastream, starting with the first start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block, and
• a second length information for a number of symbols within the base layer datastream, starting with the second start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block;
• and
• collecting symbols within the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream belonging to the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated within which the signaling information is or with which the signaling information is linked, using the signaling information, wherein
• at least one of the receiving, analyzing and collecting is implemented using an electronic circuit, a processor or a computer.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program for implementing a method for generating forward error correction data when being executed on a computer or signal processor, the method comprising:

• receiving an enhancement layer datastream and a base layer datastream for which forward error correction data shall be generated, wherein each of the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream includes a plurality of symbols;
• grouping symbols in the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream together in order to form forward error correction (FEC) source blocks;
• using Layer-Aware Forward Error Correction (LA-FEC) to generate a repair symbol based on a FEC source block, wherein the symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream have an incremental ID that is synchronized to start with a common symbol ID for each FEC source block, which is equal over the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream;
• and
• generating signaling information for a repair symbol regarding which symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream belong to the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, so that the signaling information is included into the repair symbol or linked therewith and so that the signaling information includes:
• the common symbol ID of the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, the common symbol ID equally indicating a first start symbol within the enhancement layer datastream and a second start symbol within the base layer datastream,
• a first length information for a number of symbols within the enhancement layer datastream, starting with the first start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block, and
• a second length information for a number of symbols within the base layer datastream, starting with the second start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program for implementing a method of forward error correction decoding when being executed on a computer or signal processor, the method comprising:

• receiving a repair stream including repair symbols relative to an enhancement laver datastream and a base layer datastream to be forward error corrected, wherein each of the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream includes a plurality of symbols, and the symbols in the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream are grouped together in order to form forward error correction (FEC) source blocks, wherein a repair symbol is generated based on a FEC source block using Layer-Aware Forward Error Correction, and wherein the symbols within the enhancement layer datastream and the base layer datastream have an incremental ID which is synchronized so that as to start with a common symbol ID for each FEC source block, which is equal over the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream;
• analyzing a signaling information within a repair symbol or linked therewith, the signaling information including:
• the common symbol ID of the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated, the common symbol ID equally indicating a first start symbol within the enhancement layer datastream and a second start symbol within the base layer datastream,
• a first length information for a number of symbols within the enhancement layer datastream, starting with the first start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block, and
• a second length information for a number of symbols within the base layer datastream, starting with the second start symbol, that belong to the FEC source block;
• and
• collecting symbols within the base layer datastream and the enhancement layer datastream belonging to the FEC source block based on which the repair symbol is generated within which the signaling information is or with which the signaling information is linked, using the signaling information.