Link adaptation for real-time video communications in E-GPRS networks

The authors investigate deployment of link adaptation techniques to enhance the performance of real-time video communications over time-varying error-prone environments. A novel link adaptation algorithm is proposed and analysed. Two approaches for link adaptation are investigated. The first approach aims to optimise video quality for a fixed channel allocation. The design criterion of the second approach is to maximise the overall access network throughput while maintaining the required video quality. The effectiveness of the algorithms is demonstrated for MPEG-4 coded video transmissions over simulated EGPRS networks. In addition, the effects of feedback delay, a noisy feedback channel and bursty channel errors on algorithm performance are investigated.