Bit allocation for multi-source multi-path P2P video streaming in VoD systems over wireless mesh networks

Abstract

In this paper, we aim at maximizing quality playback of received video streaming perceived by users in video on-demand systems (VoDs) over wireless mesh networks (WMNs). To do so, we exploit the benefits of both multi-source multi-path (MSMP) delivery scheme and broadcast nature of wireless media in WMNs. In this way, a new user can efficiently receive the descriptions of a video streaming from different peers (i.e., the available users who have cached the video) via the best parallel selected paths between each peer-user pair. Based on MSMP delivery scheme, we propose an optimization problem and solve it for optimal encoding rate (i.e., optimal bit allocation) of the video streaming encoded by multiple description coding (MDC) in order to provide the user with maximum reconstructed quality playback. In this technique, the optimal bit allocation is found in connection with not only the skewed lossy characteristic of multi-path but also the skewed intra popularity of the video streaming modeled by Zipf-like distribution. Furthermore, we apply MDC embedded forward error correction (MDC-FEC) for more robust in video transmission. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method efficiently improves the quality playback of MSMP P2P video streaming in VoDs over WMNs.