Efficient allocation of packet-level forward error correction in video streaming over the internet

Forward error correction (FEC) improves the quality of compressed video transmitted through a lossy network for real-time applications such as video streaming. The FEC techniques are generally applied on source video packets at the frame level. In this paper, we propose a technique where the FEC is applied on source packets at the group-of-pictures (GoP) level assuming an MPEG- like compression scheme. We derive analytically an estimate of the average playable frame rate for a given packet loss probability. Our analysis over a range of network conditions indicates that in most practical network conditions, the proposed technique provides a larger playable frame rate compared to the frame-level FEC technique. This analysis results are also validated by video streaming simulations conducted on the NS-2 network simulator. (C) 2007 SPIE and IS&T.