Dynamic Rate and FEC Adaptation for Wireless Video Multicast over Multi-rate Networks

Wireless networks possess several distinct characteristics that render the analysis, design and actual implementation methodologies developed for wired networks either invalid or inefficient. Specifically, wireless channels are error-prone, wireless links are volatile and link quality in terms of error probability and the available bandwidth is time-varying. Several methods have been proposed to cope with the above issues in a wireless environment. Two well-known are the Dynamic Rate Adaptation and the Forward Error Correction (FEC). The first one adjusts the transmission rate on a per-packet basis based on the channel quality. The second generates and transmits redundant parity packets in order to make the communication more robust. The receiver can use block erasure codes in order to correct errors using redundant information in the data stream, without contacting the sender.

In this project, we plan to combine the mentioned technologies in a joined scheme that will dynamically adjust the transmission rate and the FEC in order to optimize the decoding procedure at the receiver. Conventional systems use a conservative approach of transmission rate adaptation in order to cope with the errors in the channel. In this scheme, after a small number of consecutive packet losses the transmission rate is reduced to the lower level. The proposed mechanism uses a more aggressive approach: It keeps the transmission rate high, even for a considerably high packet error rate. However, the scheme applies the appropriate FEC in order to correct the increased errors. The joined transmission rate/FEC mechanism is efficient since busting the transmission rates leaves room for extra FEC and therefore it achieves higher throughput. Additionally, it is a very practical mechanism since it is easy to implement. We are planning to implement the scheme in software and run experiments in a real environment.

Related Publications:

 
  1. O. Alay, T. Korakis, Y. Wang, S. Panwar, “Dynamic Rate and FEC Adaptation for Video Multicast in Multi-rate Wireless Networks,” to appear, ACM/Springer Mobile Networks and Applications (MONET), Special Issue on Advances In Wireless Testbeds and Research Infrastructures.
     
  2. O. Alay , C. Li, A. Rai, T. Korakis, Y. Wang and S. Panwar, “Dynamic Rate and FEC Adaptation for Video Multicast in Multi-rate Wireless Networks“, in Proceedings of IEEE Tridentcom, Washington D.C., April 2009.
     
  3. O. Alay, T. Korakis, Y. Wang and S. Panwar, “Is Physical Layer Error Correction sufficient for Video Multicast over IEEE 802.11g Networks?“, in Proceedings of IEEE CCNC, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.
     
  4. O. Alay, T. Korakis, Y. Wang and S. Panwar , “An Experimental Study of Packet Loss and Forward Error Correction in Video Multicast over IEEE 802.11b Network“, in Proceedings of IEEE CCNC, Las Vegas, NV, 2009.