<title>Fully scalable video transmission using the SSM adaptation framework</title>

Abstract

Recently a methodology for representation and adaptation of arbitrary scalable bit-streams in a fully content non-specific manner has been proposed on the basis of a universal model for all scalable bit-streams called Scalable Structured Meta-formats (SSM). According to this model, elementary scalable bit-streams are naturally organized in a symmetric multi-dimensional logical structure. The model parameters for a specific bit-stream along with information guiding decision-making among possible adaptation choices are represented in a binary or XML descriptor to accompany the bit-stream flowing downstream. The capabilities and preferences of receiving terminals flow upstream and are also specified in binary or XML form to represent constraints that guide adaptation. By interpreting the descriptor and the constraint specifications, a universal adaptation engine sitting on a network node can adapt the content appropriately to suit the specified needs and preferences of recipients, without knowledge of the specifics of the content, its encoding and/or encryption. In this framework, different adaptation infrastructures are no longer needed for different types of scalable media. In this work, we show how this framework can be used to adapt fully scalable video bit-streams, specifically ones obtained by the fully scalable MC-EZBC video coding system. MC-EZBC uses a 3-D subband/wavelet transform that exploits correlation by filtering along motion trajectories, to obtain a 3-dimensional scalable bit-stream combining temporal, spatial and SNR scalability in a compact bit-stream. Several adaptation use cases are presented to demonstrate the flexibility and advantages of a fully scalable video bit-stream when used in conjunction with a network adaptation engine for transmission.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.