Network Working Group M. Luby
Request for Comments: 3453 Digital Fountain
Category: Informational L. Vicisano
Cisco
J. Gemmell
Microsoft
L. Rizzo
Univ. Pisa
M. Handley
ICIR
J. Crowcroft
Cambridge Univ.
December 2002
The Use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) in Reliable Multicast
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This memo describes the use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) codes
to efficiently provide and/or augment reliability for one-to-many
reliable data transport using IP multicast. One of the key
properties of FEC codes in this context is the ability to use the
same packets containing FEC data to simultaneously repair different
packet loss patterns at multiple receivers. Different classes of FEC
codes and some of their basic properties are described and
terminology relevant to implementing FEC in a reliable multicast
protocol is introduced. Examples are provided of possible abstract
formats for packets carrying FEC.
Luby, et. al. Informational