Robust Packet Video Transport Over Wireless Fading Channels Using a Joint Source-channel Coding Approach

Abstract

In this paper, we address the problem of robust video transmission over wireless networks. Specifically, we consider packet video transmission over wireless IP networks based on the RTP/UDP/IP protocol stack. Digital video delivered over wireless networks is expected to suffer quality degradation from both packet loss and bit errors in the payload. In this paper, both packet loss and bit errors in the payload are considered and the performance of a joint source-channel coding (JSCC) approach employing forward error-correction (FEC) coding schemes for H.263 + video transmission is studied. Results indicate that with an appropriate JSCC approach, FEC-based error-control techniques can significantly improve the packetization efficiency for a given end-to-end quality requirement and lead to more acceptable video delivery quality over time-varying wireless networks. Another important observation is that with a JSCC approach the fading effects of wireless links upon end-to-end video quality are substantially decreased compared to a system without using channel coding, resulting in attractive robust performance characteristics.