Scalable Multiple Description Coding and Distributed Video Streaming over 3G Mobile Networks

In this thesis, a novel Scalable Multiple Description Coding (SMDC) framework is proposed. To address the bandwidth fluctuation, packet loss and heterogeneity problems in the wireless networks and further enhance the error resilience tools in Moving Pictures Experts Group 4 (MPEG-4), the joint design of layered coding (LC) and multiple description coding (MDC) is explored. It leverages a proposed distributed multimedia delivery mobile network (D-MDMN) to provide path diversity to combat streaming video outage due to handoff in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The corresponding intra-RAN (Radio Access Network) handoff and inter-RAN handoff procedures in D-MDMN are studied in details, which employ the principle of video stream re-establishing to replace the principle of data forwarding in UMTS. Furthermore, a new IP (Internet Protocol) Differentiated Services (DiffServ) video marking algorithm is proposed to support the unequal error protection (UEP) of LC components of SMDC. Performance evaluation is carried through simulation using OPNET Modeler 9. 0. Simulation results show that the proposed handoff procedures in D-MDMN have better performance in terms of handoff latency, end-to-end delay and handoff scalability than that in UMTS. Performance evaluation of our proposed IP DiffServ video marking algorithm is also undertaken, which shows that it is more suitable for video streaming in IP mobile networks compared with the previously proposed DiffServ video marking algorithm (DVMA)

Efficient joint call admission control and bandwidth management schemes for QoS provisioning in heterogeneous wireless networks

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-157).Next generation wireless network (NGWN) will be heterogeneous where different radio access technologies (RATs) coexist. This coexistence of different RATs necessitates joint radio resource management (JRRM) for enhanced QoS provisioning and efficient radio resource utilization. Joint call admission control (JCAC) algorithm is one of the joint radio resource management algorithms. The basic functions of a JCAC algorithm are to decide whether or not an incoming call can be accepted into a heterogeneous wireless network, and to determine which of the available RATs is most suitable to admit the incoming call. The objective of a JCAC algorithm is to guarantee the QoS requirements of all accepted calls and at the same time make the best use of the available radio resources. Traditional call admission control algorithms designed for homogeneous wireless networks do not provide a single solution to address the heterogeneous architecture, which characterizes NGWN. Consequently, there is need to develop JCAC algorithms for heterogeneous wireless networks. The thesis proposes three JCAC schemes for improving QoS and radio resource utilization, which are of primary concerns, in heterogeneous wireless networks. The first scheme combines adaptive bandwidth management and joint call admission control. The objectives of the first scheme are to enhance average system utilization, guarantee QoS requirements of all accepted calls, and reduce new call blocking probability and handoff call dropping probability in heterogeneous wireless networks. The scheme consists of three components namely: joint call admission controller, bandwidth reservation unit, and bandwidth adaptation unit. Using Markov decision process, an analytical model is developed to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme considering three performance metrics, which are new call blocking probability, handoff call dropping probability, and system utilization. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme improves system utilization and reduces both new call blocking probability and handoff call dropping probability. The second proposed JCAC scheme minimizes call blocking probability by determining the optimal call allocation policy among the available RATs. The scheme measures the arrival rates of different classes of calls into the heterogeneous wireless network. Using linear programming technique, the JCAC scheme determines the call allocation policy that minimizes call-blocking probability in the heterogeneous network. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme reduces call-blocking probability in the heterogeneous wireless network

Seamless multimedia delivery within a heterogeneous wireless networks environment: are we there yet?

The increasing popularity of live video streaming from mobile devices such as Facebook Live, Instagram Stories, Snapchat, etc. pressurises the network operators to increase the capacity of their networks. However, 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. As QoE is gaining strong momentum especially with increasing users’ quality expectations, the focus is now on proposing innovative solutions to enable QoE when delivering video content over heterogeneous wireless networks. In this context, this paper presents an overview of multimedia delivery solutions, identifies the problems and provides a comprehensive classification of related state-of-the-art approaches following three key directions: adaptation, energy efficiency and multipath content delivery. Discussions, challenges and open issues on the seamless multimedia provisioning faced by the current and next generation of wireless networks are also provided

Intelligent packet discarding policies for real-time traffic over wireless networks.

Yuen Ching Wan.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-83).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Abstract --- p.iAcknowledgement --- p.iiiChapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- Nature of Real-Time Traffic --- p.1Chapter 1.2 --- Delay Variability in Wireless Networks --- p.2Chapter 1.2.1 --- Propagation Medium --- p.3Chapter 1.2.2 --- Impacts of Network Designs --- p.5Chapter 1.3 --- The Keys - Packet Lifetime & Channel State --- p.8Chapter 1.4 --- Contributions of the Thesis --- p.8Chapter 1.5 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.9Chapter 2 --- Background Study --- p.11Chapter 2.1 --- Packet Scheduling --- p.12Chapter 2.2 --- Call Admission Control (CAC) --- p.12Chapter 2.3 --- Active Queue Management (AQM) --- p.13Chapter 2.3.1 --- AQM for Wired Network --- p.14Chapter 2.3.2 --- AQM for Wireless Network --- p.17Chapter 3 --- Intelligent Packet Discarding Policies --- p.21Chapter 3.1 --- Random Packet Discard --- p.22Chapter 3.1.1 --- Variable Buffer Limit (VABL) --- p.22Chapter 3.2 --- Packet Discard on Expiration Likelihood (PEL) --- p.23Chapter 3.2.1 --- Working Principle --- p.24Chapter 3.2.2 --- Channel State Aware Packet Discard on Expiration Likelihood (CAPEL) --- p.26Chapter 3.3 --- System Modeling --- p.29Chapter 3.3.1 --- Wireless Channel as an Markov-Modulated Poisson Process (MMPP) --- p.30Chapter 3.3.2 --- System Analysis --- p.30Chapter 3.3.3 --- System Time Distribution --- p.33Chapter 3.3.4 --- Approximation of System Time Distribution by Gamma Distribution --- p.36Chapter 3.4 --- Goodput Analysis of Intelligent Packet Discarding Policies --- p.38Chapter 3.4.1 --- Variable Buffer Limit (VABL) --- p.38Chapter 3.4.2 --- CAPEL at the End-of-Line --- p.39Chapter 3.4.3 --- CAPEL at the Head-of-Line --- p.43Chapter 4 --- Performance Evaluation --- p.44Chapter 4.1 --- Simulation --- p.44Chapter 4.1.1 --- General Settings --- p.45Chapter 4.1.2 --- Choices of Parameters --- p.46Chapter 4.1.3 --- Variable Buffer Limit (VABL) --- p.49Chapter 4.1.4 --- CAPEL at the End-of-Line --- p.53Chapter 4.1.5 --- CAPEL at the Head-of-Line --- p.60Chapter 4.2 --- General Discussion --- p.64Chapter 4.2.1 --- CAPEL vs RED --- p.64Chapter 4.2.2 --- Gamma Approximation for System Time Distribution . --- p.69Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.70Chapter A --- Equation Derivation --- p.73Chapter A.l --- Steady State Probabilities --- p.73Bibliography --- p.7

Transport Layer Optimizations for Heterogeneous Wireless Multimedia Networks

The explosive growth of the Internet during the last few years, has been propelled by the TCP/IP protocol suite and the best effort packet forwarding service. However, quality of service (QoS) is far from being a reality especially for multimedia services like video streaming and video conferencing. In the case of wireless and mobile networks, the problem becomes even worse due to the physics of the medium, resulting into further deterioration of the system performance. Goal of this dissertation is the systematic development of comprehensive models that jointly characterize the performance of transport protocols and media delivery in heterogeneous wireless networks. At the core of our novel methodology, is the use of analytical models for driving the design of media transport algorithms, so that the delivery of conversational and non-interactive multimedia data is enhanced in terms of throughput, delay, and jitter. More speciffically, we develop analytical models that characterize the throughput and goodput of the transmission control protocol (TCP) and the transmission friendly rate control (TFRC) protocol, when CBR and VBR multimedia workloads are considered. Subsequently, we enhance the transport protocol models with new parameters that capture the playback buffer performance and the expected video distortion at the receiver. In this way a complete end-to-end model for media streaming is obtained. This model is used as a basis for a new algorithm for rate-distortion optimized mode selection in video streaming appli- cations. As a next step, we extend the developed models for the aforementioned protocols, so that heterogeneous wireless networks can be accommodated. Subsequently, new algorithms are proposed in order to enhance the developed media streaming algorithms when heterogeneous wireless networks are also included. Finally, the aforementioned models and algorithms are extended for the case of concurrent multipath media transport over several hybrid wired/wireless links.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Vijay Madisetti; Committee Member: Raghupathy Sivakumar; Committee Member: Sudhakar Yalamanchili; Committee Member: Umakishore Ramachandran; Committee Member: Yucel Altunbasa