Forward error-correcting (FEC) coding and streaming

In a data decoder for decoding data from received symbols received over a channel from an encoder, wherein the received data includes erasures and includes source symbols and repair symbols organized into one or more source blocks and wherein the decoder uses a generator matrix in decoding, any square submatrix of which is invertible, such that the decoder performs decoding operations concurrently with the arrival of the source symbols and repair symbols comprising a source block, a method of decoding comprising:

• representing a system of equations in a decoder memory derived, at least in part, from the generator matrix;
• substituting received source symbols into the system of equations as the source symbols are received before receiving all source symbols from the source block;
• identifying, using decoder logic, repair equations to be used for solving the system of equations as repair symbols from the source block arrive;
• calculating, using decoder logic, vector values for equations as source symbols from the source block arrive;
• and
• converting the system of equations into an upper triangular form as repair symbols from the source block arrive at the decoder.