Patent ID: 8045467

Claim:
A method of processing data packets, said method comprising: accessing a plurality of first data packets comprising data; identifying a first number of said first data packets as candidate data packets to be potentially transmitted to a receiver over a link during a period of time, said link having a bandwidth; applying an error correcting technique to at least one of said first data packets to produce second data packets comprising error correction information; and iteratively reducing said first number of candidate data packets so that a second number of said second data packets for selected said candidate data packets is increased and reapplying said error correcting technique to remaining said first number of candidate data packets until said first number times an amount of bandwidth needed to transmit a first data packet plus said second number times an amount of bandwidth needed to transmit a second data packet is not greater than said bandwidth, wherein candidate data packets removed in order to reduce said first number are not sent to said receiver during said period of time, and wherein said second data packets are sent to said receiver during said period of time.