On the performance of multiple description codes over bit error channels

Multiple description (MD) codes have been proposed to provide robustness against data loss in packet-switched networks. We report results on the performance of MD codes when used on bit error channels with error correcting codes, in order to handle loss of blocks when the number of errors in a black exceeds the correcting ability of the code. We find that MD codes appear to be outperformed by a more traditional system in which source and channel code parameters are jointly optimized to minimize end-to-end distortion.