Multicast Broadcast Services Support in OFDMA-Based WiMAX Systems [Advances in Mobile Multimedia]

Multimedia stream service provided by broadband wireless networks has emerged as an important technology and has attracted much attention. An all-IP network architecture with reliable high-throughput air interface makes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA)-based mobile worldwide interoperability for microwave access (mobile WiMAX) a viable technology for wireless multimedia services, such as voice over IP (VoIP), mobile TV, and so on. One of the main features in a WiMAX MAC layer is that it can provide'differentiated services among different traffic categories with individual QoS requirements. In this article, we first give an overview of the key aspects of WiMAX and describe multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) architecture of the 3GPP. Then, we propose a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) architecture for WiMAX that is based on MBMS. Moreover, we enhance the MBS architecture for mobile WiMAX to overcome the shortcoming of limited video broadcast performance over the baseline MBS model. We also give examples to demonstrate that the proposed architecture can support better mobility and offer higher power efficiency.     

A cross-layer framework for multi-layer-video multicast with QoS requirements in multirate wireless networks

We propose a cross-layer framework for efficient multi-layer-video multicast with rate adaptation and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements in multirate wireless networks. We employ time division multiple access at the physical layer to transmit different video layers' data. The multicast sender then dynamically regulates the transmission rate and time-slot allocation based on the channel state information (CSI) and loss QoS requirements imposed by upper protocol layers. Under our proposed cross-layer framework, we first design a rate adaptation algorithm to fulfill the diverse loss QoS requirements for all video layers while achieving high multicast throughput. We then develop a time-slot allocation scheme which synchronizes data transmission across different video layers. Also conducted are simulation results to validate and evaluate our designed adaptive multicasting schemes under the proposed cross-layer framework.     

A Cross-Layer Packet Scheduling Scheme for Multimedia Broadcasting via Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting System [Advances in Mobile Multimedia]

In recent years, multimedia content broadcasting via satellite has attracted increased attention. The satellite digital multimedia broadcasting (S-DMB) system has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives for the efficient delivery of multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). The design of an efficient radio resource management (RRM) strategy, especially the packet scheduling scheme, becomes a key technique for provisioning multimedia services at required quality of service (QoS) in S-DMB. In this article, we propose a novel cross-layer packet scheduling scheme that consists of a combined delay and rate differentiation (CDRD) service prioritization algorithm and a dynamic rate matching (DRM)-based resource allocation algorithm. The proposed scheme considers multiple key factors that span from the application layer to the physical layer, aiming at simultaneously guaranteeing diverse QoS while utilizing radio resources efficiently under the system power and resource constraints. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed cross-layer scheme achieves significantly better performance than existing schemes in queuing delay, jitter, and channel utilization.     

System Architecture and Cross-Layer Optimization of Video Broadcast over WiMAX

Video broadcast and mobile TV have received significant interests from both academia and industry recently. The emerging mobile WiMAX (802.16e) is capable of providing high data rate and flexible quality of service (QoS) mechanisms, making the support of mobile TV very attractive. However, how to efficiently deliver video broadcast over WiMAX is not straightforward, especially in the multi-BS mode. The multi-BS mode requires multiple BSs to be synchronized in the transmission of common multicast/broadcast data. In this paper, we first identify the key design issues for video broadcast over WiMAX in the multi-BS mode. Then, we present an end-to-end solution which fully addresses key issues such as synchronization, energy efficiency and robust video quality. Moreover, we propose a methodology to optimize the coverage, the spectrum efficiency and the video quality. Results show that our proposed scheme can significantly improve the coverage and spectrum efficiency while satisfying video quality requirements.     

Multimedia Support for Wireless W-CDMA with Dynamic Spreading

The emerging multimedia communication needs more support in operating systems in order to be successful over a wireless environment. The system needs to support a seamless integration (i.e., transparent application switching) of voice, audio and conventional data (e.g., e-mails, and ftp). It should also support multiple users with a guaranteed quality. In this paper, we investigate effective protocol design with dynamic spreading factors such that various QoS based on different traffic types can be provided. Increasing spreading factors can benefit the system because it will increase the desired signal strength linearly. The measured bit error rate can be reduced 75 times with a long spreading factor. By taking advantage of this benefit, we propose some middle-ware solutions to monitor the network load and switch the spreading factors dynamically based on the current load with multimedia traffic. These middle-ware solutions are implemented in mobile and base stations and experiments are performed to measure the actual system performance. The preliminary results indicate that our proposed system can always maintain a desired quality for all the voice connections. We further extend our protocol to guarantee a balanced support among different traffic types. While the voice communication is still guaranteed to be non-interrupted, the data traffic is proved to be served with reasonable response time by our proposed system.     

Dynamic QoS Allocation for Multimedia Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

In this paper, we propose an approach to support QoS for multimedia applications in ad hoc wireless network. An ad hoc network is a collection of mobile stations forming a temporary network without the aid of any centralized coordinator and is different from cellular networks which require fixed base stations interconnected by a wired backbone. It is useful for some special situations, such as battlefield communications and disaster recovery. The approach we provide uses CSMA/CA medium access protocol and additional reservation and control mechanisms to guarantee quality of service in ad hoc network system. The reason we choose CSMA protocol instead of other MAC protocols is that it is used in most of currently wireless LAN productions. Via QoS routing information and reservation scheme, network resources are dynamically allocated to individual multimedia application connections.     

A ring-based multicast routing topology with QoS support in wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networking (WMN) is an emerging technology for future broadband wireless access. The proliferation of the mobile computing devices that are equipped with cameras and ad hoc communication mode creates the possibility of exchanging real-time data between mobile users in wireless mesh networks. In this paper, we argue for a ring-based multicast routing topology with support from infrastructure nodes for group communications in WMNs. We study the performance of multicast communication over a ring routing topology when 802.11 with RTS/CTS scheme is used at the MAC layer to enable reliable multicast services in WMNs. We propose an algorithm to enhance the IP multicast routing on the ring topology. We show that when mesh routers on a ring topology support group communications by employing our proposed algorithms, a significant performance enhancement is realized. We analytically compute the end-to-end delay on a ring multicast routing topology. Our results show that the end-to-end delay is reduced about 33 %, and the capacity of multicast network (i.e., maximum group size that the ring can serve with QoS guarantees) is increased about 50 % as compared to conventional schemes. We also use our analytical results to develop heuristic algorithms for constructing an efficient ring-based multicast routing topology with QoS guarantees. The proposed algorithms take into account all possible traffic interference when constructing the multicast ring topology. Thus, the constructed ring topology provides QoS guarantees for the multicast traffic and minimizes the cost of group communications in WMNs.     

Cross-layer resource allocation over wireless relay networks for quality of service provisioning

The authors propose a physical-datalink cross-layer resource allocation scheme over wireless relay networks for quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees. By integrating information theory with the concept of effective capacity, the proposed scheme aims at maximizing the relay network throughput subject to a given delay QoS constraint. This delay constraint is characterized by the so-called QoS exponent thetas, which is the only requested information exchanged between the physical layer and the datalink layer in our cross-layer design based scheme. Over both amplify-and-forwards (AF) and decode-and-forward (DF) relay networks; the authors develop the associated dynamic resource allocation algorithms for wireless multimedia communications. Over DF relay network, the authors also study a fixed power allocation scheme to provide QoS guarantees. The simulations and numerical results verify that our proposed cross-layer resource allocation can efficiently support diverse QoS requirements over wireless relay networks. Both AF and DF relays show significant superiorities over direct transmissions when the delay QoS constraints are stringent. On the other hand, the results demonstrate the importance of deploying the dynamic resource allocation for stringent delay QoS guarantees.     

Cross-Layer QoS Scheduling for Layered Multicast Streaming in OFDMA Wireless Networks

The conventional multicast scheme of wireless networks, though establishing a bandwidth-saving means for point-to-multipoint transmission, is very conservative by limiting the throughput of short-range communications. The multicast performance can be significantly improved if some low-rate users are pruned. In this paper, we investigate the subchannel assignment mechanism of multicast streaming services in the emerging WiMax/802.16e systems, where each multimedia stream is composed of a basic layer and an enhancement layer. The former affords a low-resolution video image to all the subscribers, while the latter only serves those with preferable channel states. Optimization frameworks are formulated to characterize the QoS requirements of multicast flows: pruned proportional rate ratio (PPRR), pruned stream rate guarantee (PSRG) and pruned user proportional fairness (PUPF). Three cross-layer algorithms are presented to perform channel assignment for different QoS requirements. Analytical study shows that the proposed algorithms have polynomial-time computational complexity. Numerical experiments validate that our proposals significantly outperform the conventional peer schedulers in terms of system throughput.     

NEST: novel eMBMS scheduling technique

In order to meet the growing demand for mobile multimedia broadcast services 3GPP includes evolved multimedia broadcast and multicast (eMBMS) services in LTE systems. The high data rates, low latency and QoS provisioning makes LTE systems more suitable for mobile broadcast and multicast services than legacy wireless networks. However, the 3GPP standards has not specified any scheduling strategy for this broadcast and multicast services. In this paper, we propose a novel eMBMS scheduling technique (NEST) which focuses on reducing the average waiting time (latency) of the broadcast services offered by LTE system. This paper has twofold contributions. We proffer NEST considering two types of impatience that is user equipment (UE) departure and UE request repetition. Our proposed scheduling strategy estimates the effects originating from the departure of the mobile UEs and UE request repetition case. It intelligently combines the advantages of both flat scheduling and on-demand scheduling in such a way that the overall latency of the system is reduced. We design a suitable modeling framework to analyze the performance of the system. Simulation experiments on typical LTE systems support the performance analysis and demonstrates 10 % gains while comparing with existing eMBMS scheduling available in present LTE systems.     

A QoS Routing Protocol with Bandwidth Allocation in Multichannel Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile multimedia applications have recently generated much interest in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) supporting quality-of-service (QoS) communications. Multiple non-interfering channels are available in 802.11 and 802.15 based wireless networks. Capacity of such channels can be combined to achieve higher QoS performance than for single channel networks. The capacity of MANETs can be substantially increased by equipping each network node with multiple interfaces that can operate on multiple non-overlapping channels. However, new scheduling, channel assignment, and routing protocols are required to utilize the increased bandwidth in multichannel MANETs. In this paper, we propose an on-demand routing protocol M-QoS-AODV in multichannel MANETs that incorporates a distributed channel assignment scheme and routing discovery process to support multimedia communication and to satisfy QoS bandwidth requirement. The proposed channel assignment scheme can efficiently express the channel usage and interference information within a certain range, which reduces interference and enhances channel reuse rate. This cross-layer design approach can significantly improve the performance of multichannel MANETs over existing routing algorithms. Simulation results show that the proposed M-QoS-AODV protocol can effectively increase throughput and reduce delay, as compared to AODV and M-AODV-R protocols.     

Resource Allocation with Limited Feedback and Joint Coding Scheme for Wireless Multi-antenna Multicast System

In conventional multicast scheme (CMS), the total throughput of multicast group is constrained by the user with the worst channel quality. In order to overcome this problem of limited throughput, we introduce a resource allocation algorithm by exploiting layered coding combined with erasure correction coding for multicast services in the downlink of OFDMA-based multi-antenna system. To reduce the feedback overhead of uplink, we design a novel transmission scheme with limited feedback. Then, we formulate the joint subcarrier and power allocation problem for the data of base layer and enhancement layers, which is shown to be NP hard. Hence, in order to reduce the computational complexity, we propose a three-phase suboptimal algorithm. The algorithm is designed to maximize the system throughput while at the same time guarantee the quality of services (QoS) requirements of all multicast groups. It is composed of precoding scheme, proportional fairness subcarrier allocation algorithm and modified water-filling power allocation algorithm with QoS guarantees (MWF-Q). To further decrease the complexity of MWF-Q, a power allocation algorithm with increased fixed power allocation algorithm with QoS guarantees is introduced. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms based on limited feedback scheme significantly outperform CMS and any other existing algorithm with full feedback. Moreover, the proposed scheme can efficiently reduce 50 % of the full feedback overhead.     

A hexagonal-tree TDMA-based QoS multicasting protocol for wireless mobile ad hoc networks

The mobile multimedia applications have recently generated much interest in wireless ad hoc networks with supporting the quality-of-service (QoS) communications. The QoS metric considered in this work is the reserved bandwidth, i.e., the time slot reservation. We approach this problem by assuming a common channel shared by all hosts under a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) channel model. In this paper, we propose a new TDMA-based QoS multicast routing protocol, namely hexagonal-tree QoS multicast protocol, for a wireless mobile ad hoc network. Existing QoS routing solutions have addressed this problem by assuming a stronger multi-antenna model or a less-strong CDMA-over-TDMA channel model. While more practical and less costly, using a TDMA model needs to face the challenge of radio interference problems. The simpler TDMA model offers the power-saving nature. In this paper, we propose a new multicast tree structure, namely a hexagonal-tree, to serve as the QoS multicasting tree, where the MAC sub-layer adopts the TDMA channel model. In this work, both the hidden-terminal and exposed-terminal problems are taken into consideration to possibly exploit the time-slot reuse capability. The hexagonal-based scheme offers a higher success rate for constructing the QoS multicast tree due to the use of the hexagonal-tree. A hexagonal-tree is a tree whose sub-path is a hexagonal-path. A hexagonal-path is a special two-path structure. This greatly improves the success rate by means of multi-path routing. Performance analysis results are discussed to demonstrate the achievement of efficient QoS multicasting.     

Agent Driven Delay and Power Constrained Multicast Routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks by Using ANFIS

Group communication applications in Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs) require stringent bounds on Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. In this paper, we propose an agent driven QoS mesh based multicast routing scheme in MANET that satisfies the user requirements with good reasoning by using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Four types of agents are used in the scheme: Multicast administer, ANFIS, Route inventing and Guard agents. The proposed scheme operates in following steps. (1) ANFIS agent at the source node optimizes membership functions of QoS parameters according to the user QoS requirement. It also computes QoS factor for different combinations of parameter values from optimized membership functions. (2) Route inventing mobile agent carries the QoS requirement, set of parameter values and their corresponding QoS factors to reach multicast receivers through intermediate nodes by using selective flooding and agent cloning. Multicast administer agent (MAA) at the intermediate node decides its QoS satisfiability. (3) Route inventing mobile agents trace back the traversed path by marking QoS nodes. They facilitate MAA at the source node to construct QoS mesh between source and destinations. (4) MAA at the source node selects a shortest path to reach each of the multicast receivers from the constructed QoS mesh, and (5) Guard mobile agent is employed for the link/node failures and management of the group. Our proposed scheme performs better than fuzzy based, and autonomic QoS multicast routing schemes.     

Mobile telemedicine sensor networks with low-energy data query and network lifetime considerations

In this paper, we use an integrated architecture that takes advantage of the low cost mobile sensor networks and 3G cellular networks to accommodate multimedia medical calls with differentiated Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. We propose a low-energy, distributed, and concentric-zone-based data query mechanism that takes advantages of hierarchical ad hoc routing algorithms to enable a medical specialist to collect physiological data from mobile and/or remote patients. The medical specialist uses cellular network to report patients' data to the medical center. Moreover, we propose a transmission scheme among different zones with balance-based energy efficiency, which can extend network lifetime. We evaluate the validity of our proposals through simulations and analyze their performance. Our results clearly indicate the energy efficiency of the proposed sensor network query algorithms and the efficiency of our multiclass medical call admission control scheme in terms of meeting the multimedia telemedicine QoS requirements.     

SIP Multicast-Based Mobile Quality-of-Service Support over Heterogeneous IP Multimedia Subsystems

The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) all-IP network supports IP multimedia services through the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). This paper proposes a mobile Quality-of-Service (QoS) framework for heterogeneous IMS interworking. To reduce the handoff disruption time, this framework supports the IMS mobility based on the concept of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) multicast. In our approach, the mobility of a User Equipment (UE) is modeled as a transition in the multicast group membership. With the concept of dynamic shifting of the multicast group's members, the flow of actual data packets can be switched to the new route as quickly as possible. To overcome mobility impact on service guarantees, UEs need to make QoS resource reservations in advance at neighboring IMS networks, where they may visit during the lifetime of the ongoing sessions. These locations become the leaves of the multicast tree in our approach. To obtain more efficient use of the scarce wireless bandwidth, our approach allows UEs to temporarily exploit the inactive bandwidths reserved by other UEs in the current IMS/access network. Analytic and simulation models are developed to investigate our resource reservation scheme. The results indicate that our scheme yields comparable performance to that of the previously proposed channel assignment schemes.     

A dynamic resource allocation scheme for delay-constrained multimedia services in CDMA 1/spl times/EV-DV forward link

CDMA2000 1/spl times/EV-DV has been proposed as one of the global standards of third-generation (3G) networks, which adopts TDM/CDM and adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) techniques to enhance the data rate. The current CDMA2000 1/spl times/EV-DV standard specifies all possible combinations of system parameters, but there is no any further specification in the standard on how to dynamically change the system parameters to support the quality-of-service (QoS) requirements imposed by the upper-layer applications. In the meantime, one of the major deficiencies of previous research work done in this area is that they all are based on the channel models of physical layer such as Rayleigh model, which is unable to capture the link-layer QoS parameters such as queueing delay. Since the dynamic resource allocation usually resides in the data link layer, a wireless channel model at the link layer would be desirable to handle the QoS requirements. In this paper, we develop a dynamic resource allocation scheme using the effective capacity link model to support delay-bounded multimedia services in CDMA2000 1/spl times/EV-DV networks. Extensive simulations have been set up and the simulation results show that the proposed dynamic resource allocation scheme significantly improves the delay and throughput performance for all types of application traffic with various QoS requirements.     

A Shoelace-Based QoS Routing Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks Using Directional Antenna

In this paper, we propose a new quality-of-service (QoS) routing protocol for mobile ad hoc network (MANET) using directional antennas. The proposed scheme offers a bandwidth-based routing protocol for QoS support in MANET using the concept of multi-path. Our MAC sub-layer adopts the CDMA-over-TDMA channel model. The on-demand QoS routing protocol calculates the end-to-end bandwidth and allocates bandwidth from the source node to the destination node. The paths are combined with multiple cross links, called shoelace, when the network bandwidth is strictly limited. Due to the property of the directional antenna, these cross links can transmit data simultaneously without any data interference. We develop a shoelace-based on-demand QoS routing protocol by identifying shoelaces in a MANET so as to construct a QoS route, which satisfied the bandwidth requirement, more easily. The shoelace-based route from the source to the destination is a route whose sub-path is constructed by shoelace structure. With the identified shoelaces, our shoelace-based scheme offers a higher success rate to construct a QoS route. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed routing protocol outperform existing QoS routing protocols in terms of success rate, throughput, and average latency.     

MARS: Link-layer rate selection for multicast transmissions in wireless mesh networks

IEEE 802.11 devices dynamically choose among different modulation schemes and bit-rates for frame transmissions. This rate adaptation, however, is restricted only to unicast frames. Multicast (and broadcast) frames are constrained to use a fixed low bit-rate modulation, resulting in low throughput for multicast streams. Availability of high bandwidth and efficient use of the medium is crucial to support multimedia multicast streaming applications such as IPTV, especially in multihop mesh networks. To address this problem, we propose a rate adaptation algorithm for multicast transmissions in these networks. The proposed algorithm, MARS, is distributed in nature, and relies on local network measurements to select a transmission bit-rate for a given multicast group. The algorithm also facilitates the joint use of bit-rate selection and link-layer mechanisms such as acknowledgements and retransmissions to improve reliability of high throughput multicast streams. Based on implementation and evaluation on a testbed, the algorithm provides up to 600% gain in throughput compared to traditional 802.11 networks in some scenarios. Additionally, the algorithm can support multicast streams while consuming a small fraction (20%) of the resources compared to the basic 802.11 operation.     

Rate management in multiuser detection based MAC design for ad hoc networks

We propose a framework that produces synergy between Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical layers in order to increase the users’ individual throughput in a high-capacity CDMA ad hoc network. The MAC layer supports a multiuser detection based access protocol. Users send data packets at different rates, depending on the fading channel state. The framework is based on an LMS (Least Mean Square) prediction algorithm that estimates channel gain at the physical layer. The performance of the scheme is evaluated by simulations. Multiuser detection typically triples the throughput of ad hoc networks but our prediction-based scheme further doubles this metric. The main advantage of the proposed scheme is its flexibility and efficiency in a wide range of data rates and target bit error rates. It is also well fitted to support high-quality multi-media transmissions, and to improve the performance of applications that require high quality of service (QoS).