Switching method for mdc/scalable coding

An apparatus for a source to encode a raw video stream for transmission and transmit the encoded stream over a multi-channel streaming system based on network channel conditions, comprising:

• an encoder for encoding and prioritizing a raw video stream into n-partitions of progressively decreasing importance;
• an MD-FEC encoder that spread the n-partitions across a set of n-descriptions and computes channel codes for the n-descriptions such that the n-partitions are protected by n-channel codes of decreasing strength;
• a multi-channel streaming system for transmitting and receiving at least two coding formats
• a. scalable-video and protection format of a prioritized encoded packet stream that has been further encoded by an FEC-MDC encoder, and
• b. multiple description and protection of a prioritized encoded packet stream that has been further encoded by an FEC-MDC encoder;
• and
• a mapping that maps the MD-FEC encoded n-descriptions to one of the at least two coding formats based on network channel conditions,
• wherein said source employs said encoder to MD-FEC encode a prioritized video stream from a raw video stream, and based on network channel conditions employs said mapping to map the MD-FEC encoded stream to one of said at least two coding formats and employs said multi-channel streaming system to transmit said formatted stream over the network.

A method for switching between a multi-channel streaming system for multiple-description and protection transmission and a multi-channel streaming system for scalable-video and protection transmission based on network channel conditions, comprising the steps of:

• providing a multi-channel streaming system having at least two coding formats
• a. scalable-video and protection format of a prioritized encoded packet stream that has been further encoded by an FEC-MDC encoder;
• b. multiple description and protection format of a prioritized encoded packet stream that has been further encoded by an FEC-MDC encoder;
• receiving a multi-channel packet stream formatted in accordance with one of said at least two coding formats;
• probing the network to obtain channel conditions;
• in accordance with obtained channel conditions, mapping between the scalable-video and multiple-description format as determined by the format of the received multi-channel video stream such that video data coding and channel coding of the FEC-MDC encoded prioritized encoded packet stream is preserved;
• and
• retransmitting the mapped video stream with the provided multi-channel streaming system.

A method for encoding a raw video stream for transmission and transmitting the encoded stream by a source over a multi-channel streaming system based on network channel conditions, comprising the steps of:

• encoding and prioritizing a raw video stream into n-partitions of progressively decreasing importance;
• spreading the n-partitions across a set of n-descriptions and computing channel codes for the n-descriptions such that the n-partitions are prioritized and protected by n-channel codes of decreasing strength;
• providing a multi-channel streaming system for transmitting and receiving at least two coding formats:
• a. scalable-video and protection format, and
• b. multiple description and protection format;
• and
• mapping the n-descriptions to one of the at least two coding formats based on network channel conditions;
• and
• transmitting the mapped n-description by the provided multi-channel streaming system.