Using Video Scalability for Designing Safe Multimedia Transactions

In this paper we address video-on-demand (VOD) scenarios. Initially, we discuss how previous results on the unsuitability of the current adopted business model for the e-commerce of digital items affects VOD services. Then, we propose a reversible degradation method in order to address the lack of an accurate item validation step in current e-commerce implementations, thus providing robustness against mistaken purchases, the proposed method exploits the Scalable Video Coding (SVC) extension of the H.264/AVC standard. Finally, we illustrate how the proposed validation method can be used as a component for fair exchange protocol design, with the purpose of enabling unambiguous dispute resolution for unsatisfied buyers.