Content-aware scheduling for video streaming over HSDPA networks

In this article we propose the implementation of a content-aware cross-layer optimization for video streaming in HSDPA networks. The video packets are marked at the IP layer based on the impact on the quality of experience at the application layer. In the core network these packets are mapped onto multiple logical paths with different quality of service accordingly to their marking. The proposed approach complies with the 3GPP releases newer than R99. It has been tested with an HSDPA system level simulator and H-264 video traces. The results of simulations show that the proposed content aware scheduling delivers over 1 dB Y-PSNR improvement compared to the standard round robin.