Forward error correction in a distribution system

A transmitter unit, comprising:

• a decoder configured to receive multiple channels of packets comprising multimedia content from a content provider, the decoder being further configured to determine that the received packets include one or more erasures;
• an error detection code generator coupled to said decoder and configured to generate for each of the received packets a corresponding error detection code, and further configured to modify the error detection codes that have been generated for the erased packets so that wireless subscriber units receiving one or more of the erased packets will be able to identify them as erased packets;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to said error detection decoder and configured to transmit to each of the wireless subscriber units one or more of the channels of packets and corresponding error detection codes.

A method of transmitting packets to a receiving unit, comprising:

• determining that a plurality of incoming packets include one or more erasures;
• generating for each of the incoming packets a corresponding error detection code;
• modifying the error detection codes that have been generated for the erased packets so that a receiver unit will be able to identify the erased packets;
• and
• transmitting the packets and corresponding error detection codes to the receiver unit.

A transmitter unit, comprising:

• means for determining that a plurality of incoming packets include one or more erasures;
• means for generating for each of the incoming packets a corresponding error detection code, and for modifying the error detection codes that have been generated for the erased packets so that a receiver unit will be able to identify the erased packets;
• and
• means for transmitting the packets and corresponding error detection codes to the receiver unit.

A computer program product for supporting packet transmission, comprising:

• a computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one data processor to determine that a plurality of incoming packets include one or more erasures;
• code for causing the at least one data processor to generate for each of the incoming packets a corresponding error detection code;
• and
• code for causing the at least one data processor to modify the error detection codes that have been generated for the erased packets so that a receiver unit that receives transmission of the packets and corresponding error detection codes will be able to identify the erased packets.