A Cross-Layer Bandwidth Allocation Scheme for HTTP-Based Video Streaming in LTE Cellular Networks

Abstract

This letter investigates the benefits of flexible resource allocation when performing HTTP-based adaptive streaming (HAS) across cellular systems such as long-term evolution (LTE). To guarantee video fluidity in the presence of fluctuations of the instantaneous video source rate and channel capacity, we consider an HAS-based proxy video manager and resource controller located at the cellular base station. Based on the channel quality observed by mobile clients, the manager allocates the wireless bandwidth to mobile clients for transmitting the video streams. We propose a cross-layer bandwidth allocation scheme that takes into account the channel quality as well as the video quality requirements and encoding rate fluctuations of the HAS video stream and minimizes the transmission delays experienced by users. This cross-layer bandwidth allocation achieves the optimum in terms of HAS streams delays and it outperforms different bandwidth allocations procedures and state-of-the-art LTE schedulers.