Space-time coding with multilevel protection for multimedia transmission in MIMO systems

In this paper, space-time coding schemes with full transmit diversity are investigated for unequal error protection (UEP). Effective performance indicies are proposed to measure the intrinsic UEP capability of space-time codes, based on which we demonstrate that space-time trellis codes and superorthogonal space-time trellis codes can be used for UEP as long as the corresponding encoders are properly designed. In addition, UEP convolutional codes are concatenated with space-time block codes to construct another full-diversity UEP scheme which can provide more choices of UEP levels. Finally, good UEP codes are given by a computer search.