SDN Assisted Codec, Path and Quality Selection for HTTP Adaptive Streaming

Reza Shokri Kalan,Muge Sayit

doi:10.1109/access.2021.3114299

Reza Shokri Kalan, Muge Sayit

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3114299

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Abstract

Adaptive streaming over HTTP is the dominant video streaming technology for more than a decade. HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) systems provide a framework which enables clients to adapt quality with respect to network fluctuations during streaming, hence to optimize the perceived quality on the client side. Recently, network assistance is integrated with HAS in order to improve underlying network conditions and to provide network-related information to the clients. The performance of HAS systems can be further enhanced if the characteristics of the streamed video are considered. In this paper, we propose a HAS system architecture where Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology is utilized for assisting clients to select the most appropriate video codec and bitrate under the constraint of current network conditions as well as routing the video packet over the appropriate paths. In the proposed architecture, layered video is used, where each additional layer improves the quality. The controller estimates the packet loss probability by taking video codec characteristics, the bitrates of the layers and network capacity into account. Based on these estimations, the controller selects the appropriate codec type and video quality for the clients and manage the network. Simulation results show that the performance of the video streaming architecture can be improved significantly when codec, quality and path selection are jointly considered, and combined with SDN flexibility and advantageous.

Highlights

Being one of the most popular application types used on the Internet, video streaming applications offer a wide range of usage scenarios, from live video streaming services to distribution of personal videos of users
While emerging network technologies such as 5G, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) enable an infrastructure that provides high connectivity and low latency, the requirements of the future multimedia applications have been increasing on the other hand
In order to provide interoperability between HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) systems developed by different vendors, Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) standard was proposed by MPEG working group [2]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Being one of the most popular application types used on the Internet, video streaming applications offer a wide range of usage scenarios, from live video streaming services to distribution of personal videos of users. We propose a video streaming system architecture that utilizes SDN technology to determine jointly video codec type, quality, and streaming paths. The SDN controller has some knowledge about HAS characteristics It utilizes underlying network information and HAS-related knowledge to select the video codec type for the clients and the optimal number of layers that the clients should request. Codec type, streaming paths, and optimal quality selections are made by considering the latency at the application layer. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any previous study on the joint selection of the optimal number of video layers and streaming paths by taking into account video codec type and network conditions.

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