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.     

3D visual experience oriented cross-layer optimized scalable texture plus depth based 3D video streaming over wireless networks

3D video streaming over the mobile Internet generally incurs the inferior 3D visual experience due to the time-varying characteristics of wireless channel. The conventional video streaming optimization methods generally neglect the harmony among different networking protocol layers. This paper proposes a cross-layer optimized texture plus depth based scalable 3D video streaming method to improve the expected 3D visual experience of the user by systematically considering the application layer texture-video/depth/FEC bit-rate allocation, MAC layer multi-channel allocation, and physical layer modulation and channel coding scheme (MCS) selection. In the cross-layer optimization, a networking-related 3D visual experience model which fuses the overlapped retinal view visual quality and depth sensation with mimicking human vision system is established to predict the 3D visual experience under the specific parameter configurations of different protocol layers. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed cross-layer optimized 3D video streaming method has been validated by subjective and objective experimental results.     

基于H.264 SVC无线视频传输的自适应差错保护方法

提出了一种针对H.264可分级编码(H.264 SVC)的自适应前向纠错编码保护方案.通过比较不同的纠错方案,提出了划分丢包率区间的概念,并根据不同区间的丢包率自适应地选择最佳的纠错方案.仿真结果表明,与单一保护方法相比,所提自适应方法能够取得更好的保护效果,更适于在无线信道中进行视频传输.     

Accurate Distortion Estimation and Optimal Bandwidth Allocation for Scalable H.264 Video Transmission Over MIMO Systems

In this paper, we propose an optimal strategy for the transmission of scalable video over packet-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The scalable extension of H.264/AVC that provides a combined temporal, quality and spatial scalability is used. For given channel conditions, we develop a method for the estimation of the distortion of the received video and propose different error concealment schemes. We show the accuracy of our distortion estimation algorithm in comparison with simulated wireless video transmission with packet errors. In the proposed MIMO system, we employ orthogonal space-time block codes (O-STBC) that guarantee independent transmission of different symbols within the block code. In the proposed constrained bandwidth allocation framework, we use the estimated end-to-end decoder distortion to optimally select the application layer parameters, i.e., quantization parameter (QP) and group of pictures (GOP) size, and physical layer parameters, i.e., rate-compatible turbo (RCPT) code rate and symbol constellation. Results show the substantial performance gain by using different symbol constellations across the scalable layers as compared to a fixed constellation.      

Joint source-channel coding and power adaptation for energy efficient wireless video communications

We consider efficiently transmitting video over a hybrid wireless/wire-line network by optimally allocating resources across multiple protocol layers. Specifically, we present a framework of joint source-channel coding and power adaptation, where error resilient source coding, channel coding, and transmission power adaptation are jointly designed to optimize video quality given constraints on the total transmission energy and delay for each video frame. In particular, we consider the combination of two types of channel coding—inter-packet coding (at the transport layer) to provide protection against packet dropping in the wire-line network and intra-packet coding (at the link layer) to provide protection against bit errors in the wireless link. In both cases, we allow the coding rate to be adaptive to provide unequal error protection at both the packet and frame level. In addition to both types of channel coding, we also compensate for channel errors by adapting the transmission power used to send each packet. An efficient algorithm based on Lagrangian relaxation and the method of alternating variables is proposed to solve the resulting optimization problem. Simulation results are shown to illustrate the advantages of joint optimization across multiple layers.     

Joint QoS control for video streaming over wireless multihop networks: A cross-layer approach

In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer framework for jointly controlling and coding for multiple video streams in wireless multihop networks. At first, we develop a cross-layer flow control algorithm that works at the medium access control (MAC) layer to adjust each link's persistence probability and at the transport layer to adjust flow rates. This proposal is designed in a distributed manner that is amenable to online implementation for wireless networks, and then, a rate-distortion optimized joint source-channel coding (JSCC) approach for error-resilient scalable encoded video is presented, in which the video is encoded into multiple independent streams and each stream is assigned forward error correction (FEC) codes to avoid error propagation. Furthermore, we integrate the JSCC with the specific flow control algorithm, which optimally applies the appropriate channel coding rate given the constraints imposed by the transmission rate obtained from the proposed flow control algorithm and the prevailing channel condition. Simulation results demonstrate the merits and the need for joint quality of service (QoS) control in order to provide an efficient solution for video streaming over wireless multihop networks.     

Collaborative resource exchanges for peer-to-peer video streaming over wireless mesh networks

Peer-to-peer collaboration paradigms fundamentally change the passive way wireless stations currently adapt their transmission strategies to match available resources, by enabling them to proactively influence system dynamics through exchange of information and resources. In this paper, we focus on delay-sensitive multimedia transmission among multiple peers over wireless multi-hop enterprise mesh networks. We propose a distributed and efficient framework for resource exchanges that enables peers to collaboratively distribute available wireless resources among themselves based on their quality of service requirements, the underlying channel conditions, and network topology. The resource exchanges are enabled by the scalable coding of the video content and the design of cross-layer optimization strategies, which allow efficient adaptation to varying channel conditions and available resources. We compare our designed low complexity distributed resource exchange algorithms against an optimal centralized resource management scheme and show how their performance varies with the level of collaboration among the peers. We measure system utility in terms of the multimedia quality and show that collaborative approaches achieve ~50% improvement over non-collaborative approaches. Additionally, our distributed algorithms perform within 10% system utility of a centralized optimal resource management scheme. Finally, we observe 2-5 dB improvement in decoded PSNR for each peer due to the deployed cross-layer strategy     

Combining the rate adaptation and quality adaptation schemes for wireless video streaming

Video streaming service over wireless networks is a challenging task because of the changes in the wireless channel conditions that can occur due to interference, fading, and station mobility. Moreover, the IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard does not contain any specifications for the rate adaptation scheme which are useful for improving the wireless link utilization. To provide efficient wireless video streaming service, the rate adaptation scheme should be applied at the low layer and the quality adaptation scheme should be considered at the high layer. To meet this requirement of wireless video streaming, we propose a new cross-layer design for video streaming over wireless networks. This design includes the rate adaptation scheme in the data link and physical layers and the quality adaptation scheme in the application layer. The rate adaptation scheme adjusts the data transmission rate based on the measured RSSI at the sender-side and informs the quality adaptation scheme about the rate limits. Then the quality adaptation scheme utilizes this rate limits to adjust the quality of the video stream. Through performance evaluations, we prove that our cross-layer design improves the wireless link utilization and the quality of the video stream simultaneously.     

Per-packet rate adaptation for wireless video

Streaming video over error-prone wireless channels is a challenge as the dynamic network conditions and slow adaptation to channel degradations may affect the quality of the streamed video. Unequal error protection (UEP) can potentially address this issue by considering the importance of each video packet and its impact on the quality of reconstructed video. This paper proposes a cross-layer UEP solution for wireless video streaming over IEEE 802.11 networks. Video packets are prioritized based on the relative importance of the video packet. UEP is achieved by adapting the link layer parameters on a per-packet basis, using inherent forward error correction and adaptive modulation capabilities of the 802.11n network. Experimental results revealed that the proposed solution achieves comparable performance to the state-of-the-art methods at a lower complexity.     

A novel cross-layer strategy of video transmission to solve performance anomaly in multi-rate IEEE 802.11 networks

When wireless hosts use different rates to transmit data in IEEE 802.11 networks, it will take on the state of performance anomaly which will severely decrease the throughputs of all the higher rate hosts. Hence, it is bad for video service transmission. Considering that video is very sensitive to packet delivery delay but can tolerate some packet losses, we propose a novel cross-layer scheme which takes these two characteristics into consideration. Firstly, the maximum number of retransmissions for a video Medium Access Control (MAC) frame is computed in MAC layer according to video frame rate requirement of application layer and current access delay of MAC layer. Secondly, within the margin of the tolerant Packet Loss Rate (PLR) of application layer, several video MAC frames are allowed to drop so that we can adaptively select the transmission rate as high as possible for the rest of video MAC frames in terms of current channel quality and the maximum number of retransmissions. Experiment results show that the proposed method can reduce the delay and jitter of video service and improve the throughputs of fast hosts. Therefore, it increases the quality of reconstructed video to a certain extent and relieves the performance anomaly of network effectively.     

Joint source-channel coding for motion-compensated DCT-based SNR scalable video

In this paper, we develop an approach toward joint source-channel coding for motion-compensated DCT-based scalable video coding and transmission. A framework for the optimal selection of the source and channel coding rates over all scalable layers is presented such that the overall distortion is minimized. The algorithm utilizes universal rate distortion characteristics which are obtained experimentally and show the sensitivity of the source encoder and decoder to channel errors. The proposed algorithm allocates the available bit rate between scalable layers and, within each layer, between source and channel coding. We present the results of this rate allocation algorithm for video transmission over a wireless channel using the H.263 Version 2 signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalable codec for source coding and rate-compatible punctured convolutional (RCPC) codes for channel coding. We discuss the performance of the algorithm with respect to the channel conditions, coding methodologies, layer rates, and number of layers.     

Maximum-throughput delivery of SVC-based video over MIMO systems with time-varying channel capacity

In this paper, we present a novel scalable video transmission strategy over multi-input multi-output (MIMO) wireless systems with time-varying channel capacity. It is a great challenge to simultaneously guarantee the QoS for video delivery and maximize the system throughput over time-varying MIMO channel. We demonstrate that, by making full use of estimated channel state information (CSI) through feedback, a cascade of adaptive operations can be designed to satisfy maximum throughput for scalable video over MIMO systems. These operations include power allocation based on water-filling (WF), adaptive channel selection (ACS), and novel throughput maximizing power reallocation (PR). The proposed ACS transmission scheme enables overall increase in data throughput among enhancement layers by adaptively launching base layer bit-stream to proper sub-channel. Then, after initial power allocation with WF and proper adaptive mode selection, we obtain the surplus power across enhancement layer sub-channels which can be reallocated to some sub-channels by the proposed PR scheme. With such power reallocation, certain enhancement layers will be able to reach new level of QAM modulation through PR so as to maximize the system data throughput. We present in this paper some detailed analysis on these adaptive operations. We also present some simulation results to demonstrate that maximum throughput video transmission over MIMO wireless systems indeed can be achieved based on scalable video coding (SVC) and a sequence of appropriately designed adaptive operations.     

Cross-layer architecture for scalable video transmission in wireless network

Multimedia applications such as video conference, digital video broadcasting (DVB), and streaming video and audio have been gaining popularity during last years and the trend has been to allocate these services more and more also on mobile users. The demand of quality of service (QoS) for multimedia raises huge challenges on the network design, not only concerning the physical bandwidth but also the protocol design and services. One of the goals for system design is to provide efficient solutions for adaptive multimedia transmission over different access networks in all-IP environment. The joint source and channel coding (JSCC/D) approach has already given promising results in optimizing multimedia transmission. However, in practice, arranging the required control mechanism and delivering the required side information through network and protocol stack have caused problems and quite often the impact of network has been neglected in studies. In this paper we propose efficient cross-layer communication methods and protocol architecture in order to transmit the control information and to optimize the multimedia transmission over wireless and wired IP networks. We also apply this architecture to the more specific case of streaming of scalable video streams. Scalable video coding has been an active research topic recently and it offers simple and flexible solutions for video transmission over heterogeneous networks to heterogeneous terminals. In addition it provides easy adaptation to varying transmission conditions. In this paper we illustrate how scalable video transmission can be improved with efficient use of the proposed cross-layer design, adaptation mechanisms and control information.     

Optimized error protection of scalable image bit streams [advances in joint source-channel coding for images]

This article focuses on FEC for scalable image coders. For various channel models, we survey recent progress made in system design and discuss efficient source-channel bit allocation techniques, with emphasis on unequal error protection. This article considered JSCC (joint source-channel coding) at the application layer only. Recent research has studied cross-layer optimization where JSCC is applied to both the application layer and the physical layer. The basic task here is to minimize the average distortion by allocating available power, subcarriers, and bandwidth among users at the physical layer and source-channel symbols at the application layer subject to a total resource constraint. Most of the JSCC systems covered in this article can be readily extended to transmit scalable compressed bit streams of video sequences and 3-D meshes. Due to the stringent delay constraints in video communications and the fact that MPEG is currently exploring a scalable video coding standard, fast JSCC algorithms are expected to play a bigger role and bring more performance gains. This article is also expected to stimulate further research efforts into JSCC and more importantly, prompt the industry to adopt some of these JSCC algorithms in their system designs, thus closing the cycle from algorithm development to implementation.     

A cross-layer approach to transmit antenna selection

In this paper, we investigate a cross-layer approach to transmit antenna selection capable of adapting the number of active antennas to varying channel conditions. We address a cross-layer methodology in the sense that the criterion for the selection of antenna subsets is the maximization of link layer throughput which takes into account characteristics both at the physical and link layers. In order to enhance system performance, adaptive modulation is included to jointly perform antenna selection and rate adaptation. Performance assessment is conducted in terms of link layer throughput and transmission delay.     

Cross layer design in multi-hop networks with adaptive modulation along with constellation rearrangement

Distributed nature of wireless sensor network raises a number of design challenges, especially when energy-efficiency and Quality of Service requirements are to be taken into consideration. These challenges can only be met by allowing closer cooperation and mutual adaptation between the protocol layers, referred to as a cross-layer design paradigm. In this paper, we explain the operating stages for adaptive sleep with adaptive modulation based on the MAC layer protocol. By using adaptive sleep with adaptive modulation the total time for completing one packet is adaptively reduced. Therefore, not only the transmission time is adapted by adaptive modulation, but also the sleep time is varied by adaptive sleep. A cross-layer, optimization scheme, based on adaptive sleep with adaptive modulation along with constellation rearrangement and power control, is proposed in this paper for minimizing energy cost and enhancing the network longevity. The adaptive sleep with adaptive modulation along with constellation rearrangement algorithm changes the modulation scheme dynamically by using constellation rearrangement while adjusting the node sleep periods and power levels. The paper considers several variations of these schemes and analyzes and compares their performance under various traffic intensity based on extensive computer simulations. Finally the proposed scheme is evaluated through NS2 simulations in terms of throughput.

     

一种无线视频传输的跨层自适应不平等保护方法

无线网络的异构性给多媒体业务带来了很大的挑战,跨层设计因此成为研究的热点。该文提出一种针对视频传输的跨层自适应保护方法,根据信道变化自适应选择应用层、链路层和物理层最优的编码和传输策略组合,对视频码流中具有不同重要性的数据进行不平等保护。仿真结果证明,该文提出的跨层保护方法能够在信道条件比较差的情况下提供更好的视频传输质量。     

Cross-layer wireless multimedia transmission: challenges, principles, and new paradigms

Wireless networks are poised to enable a variety of existing and emerging multimedia streaming applications. As the use of wireless local area networks spreads beyond simple data transfer to bandwidth-intense, delay-sensitive, and loss-tolerant multimedia applications, addressing quality of service issues become extremely important. Currently, a multitude of protection and adaptation strategies exists in the different layers of the open systems interconnection (OSI) stack. Hence, an in-depth understanding and comparative evaluation of these strategies are necessary to effectively assess and enable the possible trade-offs in multimedia quality, power consumption, implementation complexity, and spectrum utilization that are provided by the various OSI layers. This further opens the question of cross-layer optimization and its effectiveness in providing an improved solution with respect to the above trade-offs. In this article we formalize the cross-layer problem, discuss its challenges, and present several possible solutions. Moreover, we also discuss the impact the cross-layer optimization strategy deployed at one station has on the multimedia performance of other stations. We introduce a new fairness concept for wireless multimedia systems that employs different cross-layer strategies, and show its advantages when compared to existing resource allocation mechanisms used in wireline communications. Finally, we propose a new paradigm for wireless communications based on competition, which allows wireless stations to harvest additional resources or free up resources as well as optimally and dynamically adapt their cross-layer transmission strategies to improve multimedia quality and/or power consumption.     

Cross-Layer Modeling of Wireless Channels: An Overview of Basic Principles

To optimize performance of applications running over wireless channels, state-of-the-art technologies incorporate a number of channel adaptation mechanisms at different layers of the protocol stack. These mechanisms affect the way communication is performed and their joint effect is often difficult to predict. Recently, to evaluate joint operation of these mechanisms, a number of cross-layer performance models have been proposed. These models abstract functionality of layers providing channel adaptation and characterize performance of information transmission at higher layers, where it is usually standardized. While cross-layer performance models differ in some details, most of them are similar in the way they approach the problem. In this paper we identify similarities between these models, formulate step-by-step cross-layer modeling procedure and discuss its basic components.     

Rate-Distortion Optimized Video Transmission Over DS-CDMA Channels with Auxiliary Vector Filter Single-User Multirate Detection

In this paper, we consider the rate-distortion optimized resource allocation for video transmission over multi-rate wireless direct-sequence code-division-multiple-access (DS-CDMA) channels. We consider the performance of transmitting scalable video over a multipath Rayleigh fading channel via a combination of multi-code multirate CDMA and variable sequence length multirate CDMA channel system. At the receiver, despreading is done using adaptive space-time auxiliary-vector (AV) filters. We propose a new interference cancelling design that uses just a single AV filter for single-user mutirate despreading. Our experimental results show that the proposed interference cancelling design has excellent performance in scalable video transmission over DS-CDMA systems that use a combination of multicode multirate and variable processing gain multirate CDMA. The proposed design takes advantage of the fact that single user's video data is transmitted using two spreading codes, one for the base layer and one for the enhancement layers, and of the fact that these spreading codes can have different processing gains. The proposed interference cancelling design is compared with two conventional single-user multirate CDMA receiver configurations, however now we use an AV filter rather than a simple matched filter. We also propose a resource allocation algorithm for the optimal determination of source coding rate, channel coding rate and processing gain for each scalable layer, in order to minimize the expected distortion at the receiver.