An information processing apparatus/method employs error detection or correction to encode information to be distributed in a description format used in a multimedia network in which the error detection or correction encodes at least a portion in the header in the information to be distributed with higher redundancy than the entity in the information to be distributed. The encoded information to be distributed in a broadcast signal is multiplexed and transmitted. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus/method may involve: transmitting a portion of the header in the information to be distributed at least a plurality of number of times while the entity in the information to be distributed is transmitted; and/or transmitting a plurality of kinds of information as an entity in the information to be distributed, and using different error detection or correction ability in correspondence with the kind of information. The information processing apparatus/method may also involve inputting information data, and a check code for correcting an error of the information data, detecting the error state of the information data, setting an allowable error state of the information data, and controlling processing for the input information data in accordance with results in the setting step and the detection step.