An Improved Delay-Resistant and Reliable Hybrid Overlay for Peer-to-Peer Video Streaming in Wired and Wireless Networks

Abstract

Live streaming applications become hugely popular in the Internet era. However, these applications place tremendous pressure on video servers. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication models are a wise solution to video server pressure due to their scalability and low cost. Many P2P streaming schemes have been proposed and deployed on the Internet. These approaches are mainly based on the tree, mesh, and hybrid overlay structures. However, most overlay structures are proposed for either wired or wireless networks, and their performance was not investigated for both wired and wireless networks. We propose a reputation-based, resilient, delay-resistant hybrid overlay streaming structure called AStream. This hybrid structure aims to multicast videos to peers with the primary goal of delivering video packets before the deadline and maintaining good video quality over both wired and wireless networks. The overlay evolves from tree to a hybrid structure consists of tree and mesh clusters over a period of time. Initially, a tree is constructed using arrival time and location-based approach and is then transformed to a hybrid overlay to reduce delays in video data delivery. Video continuity during peer dynamics is guaranteed by providing multiple parents and auxiliary connections. Simulations are carried out by applying the proposed scheme in both wired and wireless networks. We also investigate the additional delays incurred when the video server is located outside the Wi-Fi network compared to those when the video server is located inside the wireless mesh network. Simulation results show that AStream outperforms the existing overlay structures and delivers faster, better video content with reduced load on the underlying physical network.