A source model of video traffic based on full-length VBR MPEG4 video traces

MPEG encoded video accounts for a considerable share of high-volume traffic in both wireline and wireless networks of the next generation. MPEG video requires high bandwidth, and its QoS is highly sensitive to packet loss, delay and bit error rate. Such unique features raise great challenges for traffic engineering. However, the scarcity of video traces bottlenecks the advances in video traffic study. In this paper, we propose a VBR video traffic model that accurately characterizes VBR MPEG4 video traces and mimics their statistical properties. Two highlights of our model include a novel scene-based Markov modulated process and the feedback control on the frame size distribution. We validate our model by comparing various statistics of the simulated traces with those of the original traces. It is shown that our model provides an effective solution to obtain ample high-quality traces for video traffic analysis and network performance evaluation.