Streaming Video in Cellular Networks Using Scalable Video Coding Extension of H.264-AVC

Significant improvements have been demonstrated in video compression techniques while introducing H.264/AVC video coding standard. Scalable Video Coding (SVC) enables the extraction of appropriate partial bit streams to meet the specific target bit rate with lower temporal or spatial resolutions or quality while retaining a reconstruction quality that is high relative to the rate of the partial bit streams. With the limitation in network resources, mostly characterized by throughput variations, varying delay or transmission errors, adaptive bit rate of a video streaming, is desirable key features that need to be considered. Typically, in cellular networks the throughput, delay and errors of a connection depend on the current reception conditions, which are mainly influenced by a number of physical factors. In order to manage with the typically varying characteristics of cellular communication channels, efficient methods for enhancing robustness and achieving quality of service are desirable features. We will give an overview of SVC and its relation to delivery of video streaming in cellular networks having limited radio recourses. Moreover, various cases are discussed which apply SVC in cellular networks.