Abstract
The aim of adaptive HTTP streaming technology is preserving the best possible video streaming quality for viewers in heterogeneous network conditions. This can be achieved by making multiple quality versions of the video available. Switching between versions during playback should be imperceptible and fluent. The decision about quality-level switching is typically based on network capacity estimation and buffer occupancy, which predict the risk of stalling. Since quality-level switching and stalling are directly evident to the user, they are often classified as influence factors of quality of experience (QoE). In this paper, we observe different network capacity estimators and buffer behavior in limited network conditions and study how the estimators predict QoE. The challenges of variable bitrate (VBR)-encoded video are considered. We also propose two new estimators to predict QoE. One compares segment fetch time to segment playback time, while the other explores the difference of throughput and average download rate. As segment duration may influence HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) playback in unstable conditions, the findings are tested with four segment lengths. Moreover, streaming quality is analyzed in a testbed using two popular web players to reveal possible effects of the players’ features.
Highlights
The high global Internet penetration rate has enabled the massive growth of streaming video on demand (SVoD) services
The main actors in the video delivery chain are content providers, content delivery network (CDN) operators, Internet service providers (ISPs), and application designers [2]. These parties have their own criteria for developing services, the quality of experience (QoE) of the end user is their common interest for customer satisfaction
This study explores the relationship between selected quality of service (QoS) estimators and the QoE influence factors of HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) playback
Summary
The high global Internet penetration rate has enabled the massive growth of streaming video on demand (SVoD) services. The main actors in the video delivery chain are content providers, content delivery network (CDN) operators, Internet service providers (ISPs), and application designers [2]. These parties have their own criteria for developing services, the quality of experience (QoE) of the end user is their common interest for customer satisfaction. ITU-T FG IPTV [3] defines QoE as "the overall acceptability of an application or service, as perceived subjectively by the end user". QoE is subjective and depends on a user’s experiences and context. There are standardized models like ITU-T P.1203 recommendation for assessing the QoE of HAS
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