Error recovery for variable length codes
J. Maxted, John P. Robinson · IEEE Transactions on Information Theory · 1985
When an error occurs in the encoded bit stream produced by a variable length code, the decoder may lose synchronization. A state model for synchronization recovery is developed, and a method for determining the expected span of source symbols lost is presented. The performance of various codes with respect to error recovery is discussed. Two examples are given where equivalent optimal codes have a marked difference in their error recovery characteristics. Some open problems are indicated.