In-network optimal rate reduction for packetized MPEG video

ABSTRACT

Bottleneck links in network elements cause packet queues to overflow thereby resulting in random packet loss. This problem is a big issue at the boundary of wired and wireless networks, and it can cause streamed media applications to perform poorly. For streamed MPEG video, packet loss can induce an incorrect MPEG video bit-stream syntax. At the video player the corrupt stream leads to an improper decoding of frames resulting in a poor viewer experience that can include frame corruption, frame freezing and tiling artifacts. Even very few packet losses can result in a noticeable decay in perceived video quality. To solve this problem, we propose a deterministic in-network selective packet forwarding algorithm that preserves MPEG video syntax while reducing the bandwidth of the video stream to be below the bottleneck bandwidth. Optimality of the forwarding algorithm is achieved by solving a 0-1 knapsack problem using estimated video parameters. We evaluate the proposed scheme for real MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video streams. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated in terms of the reduction in the number of bit stream syntax errors in addition to the rate optimality.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Packet-switching networks

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Wireless communication

General Terms:
Algorithms, Measurement

Keywords:
QoS, content inspection, knapsack, rate adaptation, streamed MPEG video