Method and apparatus for continuous cross-channel interleaving

摘要

A method of interleaving data for transmission is provided wherein first and second interleaving patterns for arranging data symbols in a source data stream into first and second transmitted data streams are selected. Each of said data symbols has at least one bit. The first and second transmitted data streams are transmitted substantially simultaneously on separate transmission channels to at least one receiver. The first and second patterns are used to transmit the data symbols in the source data stream in a different order on the respective transmission channels to maximize recovery of the source data stream when the transmission channels are blocked. The selected interleaving patterns can involve reordering the data symbols throughout the first and second transmitted data streams using different reordering criteria. The reordering criteria can vary on a frame-by-frame basis if the source data stream is time division multiplexed. Complementary data can be sent on respective transmission channels.