A Unified QoS Optimization for Scalable Video Multirate Multicast over Hybrid Coded Network

This paper aims to optimize joint overall video quality and traffic performance of multirate multicast of scalable video streaming accessing hybrid wired/wireless paths. In order to guarantee layered utility maximization over tiered wired/wireless coded networks, we propose a joint source and network flow optimization scheme where each scalable layer is tailored in an incremental order and finds jointly optimal multicast paths and associated rates. It not only achieves the highest sustainable layered video quality, but also takes into account both path-overlapping allocation for different receivers which takes advantage of network coding and the wireless link contention in a shared transmission medium. The convex programming is imposed on the total variation minimization of layered rate-distortion. Using primal decomposition and the primal-dual approach, we develop a decentralized algorithm with two levels of optimization. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm not only provides better video quality with optimal layered access for heterogeneous receivers, but benefits the asymptotic capacity of a hierarchical "hybrid" wired/wireless architecture in a scalable sense.