Systematic rate-independent Reed-Solomon erasure codes

A receive payload processor comprising:

• an unpacking module configured to unpack k output working symbols from k output transmit symbols received over an erasure channel;
• a systematic, rate-independent Reed-Solomon (SR-RS) decoder configured to recover k or less source working symbols from the k output working symbols, wherein the SR-RS decoder comprises a first interpolating polynomial evaluator configured to evaluate a first interpolation polynomial, constructed from a first linear combination of basis polynomials, at k or less distinct locations;
• and
• a de-segmentation module configured to de-segment a file using the recovered k or less source working symbols, wherein the unpacking module, the SR-RS decoder and the de-segmentation module are each implemented at least in part using hardware.

A systematic, rate-independent Reed-Solomon (SR-RS) coding module comprising:

• a basis polynomial generator configured to generate basis polynomials based on k locations;
• a first interpolating polynomial evaluator configured to evaluate a first interpolation polynomial, constructed from a first linear combination of the basis polynomials, at a first set of one or more distinct locations that are different from the k locations, wherein a number of distinct locations in the first set is adjusted to adjust a code rate of the SR-RS coding module;
• and
• a second interpolating polynomial evaluator configured to evaluate a second interpolation polynomial, constructed from a second linear combination of the basis polynomials, at a second set of one or more distinct locations that are different from the k locations, wherein a number of distinct locations in the second set is adjusted to adjust the code rate of the SR-RS coding module, wherein the basis polynomial generator, the first interpolating polynomial evaluator and the second interpolating polynomial evaluator are each implemented at least in part using hardware.