Channel coding with unequal error protection for multi-mode source coded information

An apparatus for use in channel coding of information for transmission in a communication system, the information having been source coded in a multi-mode source encoder, the apparatus comprising:

• a multi-mode channel encoder operative to determine a mode used by the multi-mode source encoder to source code a designated portion of the information, and to channel code the source-coded portion of the information utilizing an error protection profile identified at least in part based on the determined mode, wherein at least one channel coding error protection profile is associated with each of the modes of the multi-mode source encoder.

A method for decoding of information transmitted in a communication system, a designated portion of the information having been source coded in a multi-mode source encoder and subsequently channel coded using one of a plurality of error protection profiles selected for that portion based at least in part on the mode of the source encoder used to source code that portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• hypothesizing in a receiver of the system that a particular one of the modes of the multi-mode source encoder was used to source code the designated portion of the information;
• and
• analyzing at least part of corresponding channel-coded information using an error protection profile associated with the hypothesized mode of the multi-mode source encoder to determine if the hypothesized mode of the multi-mode source encoder is an appropriate mode for use in source decoding of that portion.

An apparatus for use in decoding of information transmitted in a communication system, a designated portion of the information having been source coded in a multi-mode source encoder and subsequently channel coded using one of a plurality of error protection profiles selected for that portion based at least in part on the mode of the source encoder used to source code that portion, the apparatus comprising:

• a multi-mode channel decoder operative to hypothesize that a particular one of the modes of the multi-mode source encoder was used to source code the designated portion of the information, and to analyze at least part of corresponding channel-coded information using an error protection profile associated with the hypothesized mode of the multi-mode source encoder to determine if the hypothesized mode of the multi-mode source encoder is an appropriate mode for use in source decoding of that portion.