Scalable Video Transmission Over Wireless Networks Based on Loss Distribution and Layer Information

We propose an efficient scalable video transmission method using unequal forward error correction (FEC) scheme based on loss distribution and layer information. The actual packet loss rates over wireless networks are variable due to the clustered packet losses. First, we deduce the expected packet loss recovery rate from the estimation of the effective packet loss rate using loss distribution statistics. Second, layer-based distortion metric is presented including error propagation effects from hierarchical prediction structure in compressed scalable video packets. Third, the performance metric for FEC assignment is proposed from the layer-based distortion metric and the expected packet loss recovery rate. Finally, the FEC assignment algorithm is proposed for maximizing the performance metric. The proposed unequal FEC assignment method demonstrates robustness and significantly improved performance for scalable video transmission in various channel conditions compared to previous FEC assignment schemes.