An Integrated Predictive Mobile-Oriented Bandwidth-Reservation Framework to Support Mobile Multimedia Streaming

Abstract

Bandwidth is an extremely valuable and scarce resource in wireless networks. Therefore, efficient bandwidth management is necessary to support service continuity, guarantee acceptable quality of service and ensure steady quality of experience for users of mobile multimedia streaming services. Indeed, the support of uniform streaming rate during the entire course of a streaming service, whereas the user is on the move is a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a framework, together with schemes, which integrates user mobility prediction models with bandwidth availability prediction models to support the requirements of mobile multimedia services. More specifically, we propose schemes that predict paths to destinations, times when users will enter/exit cells along predicted paths, and available bandwidth in cells along predicted paths. With these predictions, a request for a mobile streaming service is accepted only when there is enough (predicted) available bandwidth, which is along the path to destination, to support the service. Simulation results show that the proposed approach outperforms existing bandwidth management schemes in better supporting mobile multimedia services.