Abstract: A multimedia stream system includes a transmitter and a multimedia data stream receiver. The transmitter at receives raw multimedia data and generates uniform error correction data and a standard multimedia data stream. The multimedia data stream receiver receives the standard multimedia data stream containing encoded multimedia data and the uniform error correction data for error correction of encoded multimedia data.

Abstract: In a transmitter, a standard stream of encoded multi-media data and uniform error correction data is transmitted through a first channel. The uniform error correction data provides substantially the same error correction for all portions of the encoded multimedia data. Simultaneously, additional unequal error correction data is generated for critical portions of the standard stream and not for other portions of the standard stream, and the additional error correct data is transmitted through a second channel. In a receiver, the additional error correct data is used to error correct just the critical portions of the standard stream, and then the uniform error correction data is used to error correct all the portions of the encoded multimedia data of the standard stream.