A new multi-path Forward Error Correction (FEC) control scheme with path interleaving for video streaming

Abstract

Path diversity can improve the quality of video transmitted in wireless networks and reduce the packet loss rate (PLR). Furthermore, the path diversity can be combined with error control techniques, such as the FEC scheme to develop the quality of service (Qos) for delivering video. However, the FEC efficiency is reduced by the burst loss, which is caused by wireless network errors, when an insufficient number of packets are received by the receiver from the loss recovery of the FEC blocks. In this paper, a new multi-path FEC control scheme with path interleaving, that uses a 4-State Markov Model as a burst loss model, is proposed to defeat burst loss problems, and to prevent reduction of the FEC efficiency owing to burst losses in a multi-path communication environment for video streaming. We divide the burst losses to different FEC blocks. In addition, the transmission order of the FEC blocks is altered and then the path interleaving technique is used to send these data. The FEC efficiency and the quality of the video streaming can be improved by using our proposed scheme, because it results in a higher peak signal-to-noise (PSNR) value and a lower PLR especially when the burst length (BL) is high.