Hierarchical coding for multicast messages

An apparatus comprising:

• means for encoding first input data for a first user in accordance with a first code rate to obtain first coded data;
• means for encoding third input data for a third user in accordance with a third code rate to obtain third coded data;
• and
• means for jointly encoding second input data for a second user with the first and third coded data in accordance with a second code rate to obtain second coded data.

An article comprising:

• a non-transitory computer storage device having computer implementable code stored therein that is executable by at least one processor to:
• encode first input data for a first user in accordance with a first code rate to obtain first coded data;
• encode third input data for a third user in accordance with a third code rate to obtain third coded data;
• and
• jointly encode second input data for a second user with the first and third coded data in accordance with a second code rate to obtain second coded data.

An apparatus comprising:

• memory;
• and
• at least one processor to:
• encode first input data for a first user in accordance with a first code rate to obtain first coded data;
• encode third input data for a third user in accordance with a third code rate to obtain third coded data;
• and
• jointly encode second input data for a second user with the first and third coded data in accordance with a second code rate to obtain second coded data.