System and method for improving video transmission over a wireless network

A wireless communication device capable of transmitting an outgoing RF data signal comprising a base layer data stream and at least one enhancement layer data stream, said wireless communication device comprising:

• a base layer encoder;
• at least one enhancement layer encoder;
• a variable mode transmitter capable of modulating an input signal in a plurality of physical modes to thereby produce said outgoing RF data signal so that different physical modes of modulated transmission correspond to one of the base laver data stream and said at least one enhancement layer data stream;
• and
• a transmitter mode controller capable of controlling said plurality of physical modes of said variable mode transmitter, wherein said transmitter mode controller causes said variable mode transmitter to transmit a base layer output signal from said base layer encoder in a first physical mode and causes said variable mode transmitter to transmit at least one enhancement layer output signal from said at least one enhancement layer encoder in a second physical mode.

For use in a wireless communication device capable of receiving an incoming RF data signal comprising a base layer RF signal and at least one enhancement layer RF signal, a method of processing the RF data signal comprising the steps of:

• demodulating the base layer RF signal in a first physical mode to thereby generate a base layer data stream;
• demodulating the at least one enhancement RF signal in a second physical mode to thereby generate at least one enhancement layer data stream;
• wherein the demodulation of the base layer RF signal and said at least one enhancement RF signal into said first physical mode and said second physical mode includes using different types of demodulation that correspond to a respective layer of said base layer and said at least one enhancement layer;
• decoding the base layer data stream in a base layer decoder;
• decoding the at least one enhancement layer data stream in at least one enhancement layer decoder;
• and
• combining the output of the base layer decoder and the at least one enhancement layer decoder to generate a final output signal.

For use in a wireless communication device capable of transmitting to at least one receiver an incoming data signal, a method of processing the incoming data signal comprising the steps of

• encoding the incoming data signal in a base layer encoder to generate therefrom a base layer data stream;
• encoding the incoming data signal in at least one enhancement layer encoder to generate therefrom at least one enhancement layer data stream;
• modulating the base layer data stream in a first physical mode to thereby generate a base layer RF signal;
• and
• modulating the at least one enhancement layer data stream in a second physical mode to thereby generate at least one enhancement layer RF signal;
• wherein each respective physical mode of modulated transmission correspond to one of the base layer data stream and said at least one enhancement layer data stream.