4 ms·

While FECs are useful, I really wish there was a free and good implementation of fountain codes [1]. [1]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_code https:/

by tener 10y ago

While FECs are useful, I really wish there was a free and good implementation of fountain codes [1]. [1]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_code https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_code

nickcw 10y ago
I believe fountain codes are patented so you are unlikely to see a free and open implementation. According to this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2684488 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2684488 Qualcomm now owns the patents.
- tener 10y ago
  Are software patents a thing outside US? Surely plenty of hackers in EU could use such a library.
  - nickcw 10y ago
    I believe that software can be patented in the EU if you have a clever patent agent... From wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_Eur... > Under the EPC, and in particular its Article 52,[1] "programs for computers" are not regarded as inventions for the purpose of granting European patents,[2] but this exclusion from patentability only applies to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to a computer program as such.[3] As a result of this partial exclusion, and despite the fact that the EPO subjects patent applications in this field to a much stricter scrutiny[4] when compared to their American counterpart, that does not mean that all inventions including some software are de jure not patentable. Going back to the original question, I certainly wouldn't want to start an open source project knowing that Qualcomm might sue me for patent infringement. Defending their intellectual property is part of their core business strategy.
  - nabla9 10y ago
    Yes, but patent process is more strict. http://www.europeansoftwarepatents.com/howtos/software-patents-allowed-europe/ http://www.europeansoftwarepatents.com/howtos/software-paten... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_Eur...
metafex 10y ago
Here is an implementation of RaptorQ (a fountain code). It is in alpha and actively developed: https://github.com/LucaFulchir/libRaptorQ https://github.com/LucaFulchir/libRaptorQ The standard: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6330 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6330
nullc 10y ago
Wirehair is a hybrid LDPC code which can be used like a Fountain code. It has astonishingly low overhead for one. https://github.com/catid/wirehair/ https://github.com/catid/wirehair/

by tener 10y ago

While FECs are useful, I really wish there was a free and good implementation of fountain codes [1]. [1]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_code https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_code

nickcw 10y ago

I believe fountain codes are patented so you are unlikely to see a free and open implementation. According to this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2684488 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2684488 Qualcomm now owns the patents.

tener 10y ago
Are software patents a thing outside US? Surely plenty of hackers in EU could use such a library.
- nickcw 10y ago
  I believe that software can be patented in the EU if you have a clever patent agent... From wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_Eur... > Under the EPC, and in particular its Article 52,[1] "programs for computers" are not regarded as inventions for the purpose of granting European patents,[2] but this exclusion from patentability only applies to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to a computer program as such.[3] As a result of this partial exclusion, and despite the fact that the EPO subjects patent applications in this field to a much stricter scrutiny[4] when compared to their American counterpart, that does not mean that all inventions including some software are de jure not patentable. Going back to the original question, I certainly wouldn't want to start an open source project knowing that Qualcomm might sue me for patent infringement. Defending their intellectual property is part of their core business strategy.
- nabla9 10y ago
  Yes, but patent process is more strict. http://www.europeansoftwarepatents.com/howtos/software-patents-allowed-europe/ http://www.europeansoftwarepatents.com/howtos/software-paten... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_Eur...

metafex 10y ago

Here is an implementation of RaptorQ (a fountain code). It is in alpha and actively developed: https://github.com/LucaFulchir/libRaptorQ https://github.com/LucaFulchir/libRaptorQ The standard: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6330 https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6330

nullc 10y ago

Wirehair is a hybrid LDPC code which can be used like a Fountain code. It has astonishingly low overhead for one. https://github.com/catid/wirehair/ https://github.com/catid/wirehair/