Abstract
High-quality real-time video streaming to users in mobile networks is challenging due to the dynamically changing nature of the network paths, particularly the limited bandwidth and varying end-to-end delay. In this paper, we empirically investigate the performance of multipath streaming in the context of multihomed mobile networks. Existing schemes that make use of the aggregated bandwidth of multiple paths can overcome bandwidth limitations on a single path but suffer an efficiency penalty caused by retransmission of lost packets in reliable transport schemes or path switching overheads in unreliable transport schemes. This work focuses on the evaluation of schemes to permit concurrent use of multiple paths to deliver video streams. A comprehensive streaming framework for concurrent multipath video streaming is proposed and experimentally evaluated, using current state-of-the-art H.264 Scalable Video Coding (H.264/SVC) and the next generation High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standards. It provides a valuable insight into the benefit of using such schemes in conjunction with encoder specific packet prioritisation mechanisms for quality-aware packet scheduling and scalable streaming. The remaining obstacles to deployment of concurrent multipath schemes are identified, and the challenges in realising HEVC based concurrent multipath streaming are highlighted.
Highlights
One of the main challenges in video streaming is to intelligently adapt the stream in response to dynamically changing network conditions in a way that attempts to minimise the distortion effect on the received video of adverse network conditions
In this work we propose and employ a simple packet weighting scheme for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) which provides the highest level of importance to Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) units of pictures that are Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) pictures, Clean Random Access Pictures (CRA) or are marked as used for reference by the nal ref flag header field
In this paper we have presented and empirically evaluated a comprehensive concurrent streaming framework for optimised, efficient delivery of H.264/SVC and HEVC video streams over multiple paths in mobile networks
Summary
One of the main challenges in video streaming is to intelligently adapt the stream in response to dynamically changing network conditions in a way that attempts to minimise the distortion effect on the received video of adverse network conditions. Of the multipath streaming schemes proposed in the literature, to the best of our knowledge, only [12, 13] are designed for the use with H.264/SVC scalable video streams in the NEMO [14] based multihomed mobile networks environment. We propose a simple, HEVC specific packet weighting scheme for priority-based packet scheduling and scalable packet delivery (via selective packet dropping to meet network paths’ bandwidth constraint) The results of this pilot HEVC implementation provide valuable insights into the challenges that will face researchers seeking to further investigate HEVC streaming in both single and multipath environments.
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