UEFA-M: Utility-based energy efficient adaptive multimedia mechanism over LTE HetNet small cells

Abstract

The emerging advances in mobile computing devices enable the adoption of new services like video over LTE (ViLTE), augmented and virtual reality, omnidirectional video, etc. However, these new services cannot be technologically achievable within the current networks without a rethink in the network architecture. A simple increase in system capacity will not be enough without considering the provisioning of Quality of Experience (QoE) as the basis for network control, customer loyalty and retention rate and thus increase in network operators' revenue. This paper proposes an Utility-based Energy eFficient Adaptive Multimedia Mechanism (UEFA-M) over the LTE HetNet Small Cells environment that combines the use of utility theory and the concept of proactive handover to enable the adaptation of the multimedia stream ahead of the handover process in order to provide a seamless QoE to the mobile user and energy savings for their mobile device. Mathematical models for energy and quality are derived from previous real experimental data and integrated in the adaptation mechanism using the utility theory. The performance of the proposed adaptive multimedia scheme is analyzed and compared against a non-adaptive solution in terms of energy efficiency and Mean Opinion Score (MOS).