Error resilient video transcoding for robust inter-network communications using GPRS

A novel fully comprehensive mobile video communications system is proposed in this paper. This system exploits the useful rate management features of the video transcoders and combines them with error resilience for transmissions of coded video streams over general packet radio service (GPRS) mobileaccess networks. The error-resilient video transcoding operation takes place at a centralized point, referred to as a video proxy, which provides the necessary output transmission rates with the required amount of robustness. With the use of this proposed algorithm, error resilience can be added to an already compressed video stream at an intermediate stage at the edge of two or more different networks through two resilience schemes, namely the adaptive intra refresh (AIR) and feedback control signaling (FCS) methods. Both resilience tools impose an output rate increase which can also be prevented with the proposed novel technique in this paper. Thus, an error-resilient video transcoding scheme is presented to give robust video outputs at near target transmission rates that only require the same number of GPRS timeslots as the nonresilient schemes. Moreover, an ultimate robustness is also accomplished with the combination of the two resilience algorithms at the video proxy. Extensive computer simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system

Robust multi-view video streaming through adaptive intra refresh video transcoding

A multi-view video (MVV) transcoder has been designed. The objective is to deliver maximum quality 3D video data from the source to the 2D video destination, through a wireless communication channel using all of its available bandwidth. This design makes use of the spatial and view downscaling algorithm. The method involves the reuse of motion information obtained from both the reference frames and views. Consequently, highly compressed MVV is converted into low bit rate single view video that is compliant with H.264/AVC format. Adaptive intra refresh (AIR) error resilience tool is configured to mitigate the error propagation resulting from channel conditions. Experimental results indicate that error resilience plus transcoding performed better than the cascaded technique. Simulation results demonstrated an efficient 3D video streaming service applied to low power mobile devices

Cross-layer Optimized Wireless Video Surveillance

A wireless video surveillance system contains three major components, the video capture and preprocessing, the video compression and transmission over wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and the video analysis at the receiving end. The coordination of different components is important for improving the end-to-end video quality, especially under the communication resource constraint. Cross-layer control proves to be an efficient measure for optimal system configuration. In this dissertation, we address the problem of implementing cross-layer optimization in the wireless video surveillance system. The thesis work is based on three research projects. In the first project, a single PTU (pan-tilt-unit) camera is used for video object tracking. The problem studied is how to improve the quality of the received video by jointly considering the coding and transmission process. The cross-layer controller determines the optimal coding and transmission parameters, according to the dynamic channel condition and the transmission delay. Multiple error concealment strategies are developed utilizing the special property of the PTU camera motion. In the second project, the binocular PTU camera is adopted for video object tracking. The presented work studied the fast disparity estimation algorithm and the 3D video transcoding over the WSN for real-time applications. The disparity/depth information is estimated in a coarse-to-fine manner using both local and global methods. The transcoding is coordinated by the cross-layer controller based on the channel condition and the data rate constraint, in order to achieve the best view synthesis quality. The third project is applied for multi-camera motion capture in remote healthcare monitoring. The challenge is the resource allocation for multiple video sequences. The presented cross-layer design incorporates the delay sensitive, content-aware video coding and transmission, and the adaptive video coding and transmission to ensure the optimal and balanced quality for the multi-view videos. In these projects, interdisciplinary study is conducted to synergize the surveillance system under the cross-layer optimization framework. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed schemes. The challenges of cross-layer design in existing wireless video surveillance systems are also analyzed to enlighten the future work. Adviser: Song C

Cross-layer Optimized Wireless Video Surveillance

A wireless video surveillance system contains three major components, the video capture and preprocessing, the video compression and transmission over wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and the video analysis at the receiving end. The coordination of different components is important for improving the end-to-end video quality, especially under the communication resource constraint. Cross-layer control proves to be an efficient measure for optimal system configuration. In this dissertation, we address the problem of implementing cross-layer optimization in the wireless video surveillance system. The thesis work is based on three research projects. In the first project, a single PTU (pan-tilt-unit) camera is used for video object tracking. The problem studied is how to improve the quality of the received video by jointly considering the coding and transmission process. The cross-layer controller determines the optimal coding and transmission parameters, according to the dynamic channel condition and the transmission delay. Multiple error concealment strategies are developed utilizing the special property of the PTU camera motion. In the second project, the binocular PTU camera is adopted for video object tracking. The presented work studied the fast disparity estimation algorithm and the 3D video transcoding over the WSN for real-time applications. The disparity/depth information is estimated in a coarse-to-fine manner using both local and global methods. The transcoding is coordinated by the cross-layer controller based on the channel condition and the data rate constraint, in order to achieve the best view synthesis quality. The third project is applied for multi-camera motion capture in remote healthcare monitoring. The challenge is the resource allocation for multiple video sequences. The presented cross-layer design incorporates the delay sensitive, content-aware video coding and transmission, and the adaptive video coding and transmission to ensure the optimal and balanced quality for the multi-view videos. In these projects, interdisciplinary study is conducted to synergize the surveillance system under the cross-layer optimization framework. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed schemes. The challenges of cross-layer design in existing wireless video surveillance systems are also analyzed to enlighten the future work. Adviser: Song C

Adaptive intra refresh for robust wireless multi-view video

This thesis was submitted for the award of PhD and was awarded by Brunel University LondonMobile wireless communication technology is a fast developing field and every day new mobile communication techniques and means are becoming available. In this thesis multi-view video (MVV) is also refers to as 3D video. Thus, the 3D video signals through wireless communication are shaping telecommunication industry and academia. However, wireless channels are prone to high level of bit and burst errors that largely deteriorate the quality of service (QoS). Noise along the wireless transmission path can introduce distortion or make a compressed bitstream lose vital information. The error caused by noise progressively spread to subsequent frames and among multiple views due to prediction. This error may compel the receiver to pause momentarily and wait for the subsequent INTRA picture to continue decoding. The pausing of video stream affects the user's Quality of Experience (QoE). Thus, an error resilience strategy is needed to protect the compressed bitstream against transmission errors. This thesis focuses on error resilience Adaptive Intra Refresh (AIR) technique. The AIR method is developed to make the compressed 3D video more robust to channel errors. The process involves periodic injection of Intra-coded macroblocks in a cyclic pattern using H.264/AVC standard. The algorithm takes into account individual features in each macroblock and the feedback information sent by the decoder about the channel condition in order to generate an MVV-AIR map. MVV-AIR map generation regulates the order of packets arrival and identifies the motion activities in each macroblock. Based on the level of motion activity contained in each macroblock, the MVV-AIR map classifies frames as high or low motion macroblocks. A proxy MVV-AIR transcoder is used to validate the efficiency of the generated MVV-AIR map. The MVV-AIR transcoding algorithm uses spatial and views downscaling scheme to convert from MVV to single view. Various experimental results indicate that the proposed error resilient MVV-AIR transcoder technique effectively improves the quality of reconstructed 3D video in wireless networks. A comparison of MVV-AIR transcoder algorithm with some traditional error resilience techniques demonstrates that MVV-AIR algorithm performs better in an error prone channel. Results of simulation revealed significant improvements in both objective and subjective qualities. No additional computational complexity emanates from the scheme while the QoS and QoE requirements are still fully met.Tertiary Institution Trust Fund (TETFund) of Nigeri

Robust Multi-View Video Streaming through Adaptive Intra Refresh Video Transcoding

A multi-view video (MVV) transcoder has been designed. The objective is to deliver maximum quality 3D video data from the source to the 2D video destination, through a wireless communication channel using all of its available bandwidth. This design makes use of the spatial and view downscaling algorithm. The method involves the reuse of motion information obtained from both the reference frames and views. Consequently, highly compressed MVV is converted into low bit rate single view video that is compliant with H.264/AVC format. Adaptive intra refresh (AIR) error resilience tool is configured to mitigate the error propagation resulting from channel conditions. Experimental results indicate that error resilience plus transcoding performed better than the cascaded technique. Simulation results demonstrated an efficient 3D video streaming service applied to low power mobile devices