Adaptive information delivery system using FEC feedback

A system for adjusting a data transfer rate, the apparatus comprising:

• a source of data, said data selected from the group consisting of video data and audio data;
• a data encoder coupled to said source of data and outputting an encoded data stream of a first transfer rate;
• a forward error correction (FEC) encoder coupled to said transfer rate controller, said FEC encoder applying an FEC algorithm to said encoded data stream;
• a communication link coupled to said FEC encoder, wherein said encoded data stream is transmitted over said communication link after application of said FEC algorithm by said FEC encoder;
• an FEC decoder coupled to said communication link and receiving said encoded data stream, said FEC decoder providing feedback to said data encoder regarding communication link quality, wherein said data encoder adjusts said first transfer rate in response to said feedback;
• and
• a compressed video decoder coupled to said FEC decoder, said compressed video decoder outputting a decoded data stream.

A method of optimizing a data transfer rate of data from a source to a destination over a communication link, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting a first data transfer rate for transferring said data;
• encoding said data with an FEC encoder;
• transferring said data over said communication link;
• decoding said data with an FEC decoder to determine a quality characteristic of said data transferred over said communication link;
• generating a feedback message with said FEC decoder, said feedback message corresponding to said quality characteristic;
• adjusting said data transfer rate from said first data transfer rate to a second data transfer rate in response to said feedback message;
• and
• forwarding said data to a receiver.