In this paper, we propose a quality-level selection method for adaptive video streaming with scalable video coding (SVC). The proposed method works on the client with the dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) with SVC. The proposed method consists of two components: introducing segment group and a buffer-aware layer selection algorithm. In general, quality of experience (QoE) performance degrades due to stalling (playback buffer underflow), low playback quality, frequent quality-level switching, and extreme-down quality switching. The proposed algorithm focuses on reducing the frequent quality-level switching, and extreme-down quality switching without increasing stalling and degrading playback quality. In the proposed method, a SVC-DASH client selects a layer every G segments, called a segment group to prevent frequent quality-level switching. In addition, the proposed method selects the quality of a layer based on a playback buffer in a layer selection algorithm for preventing extreme-down switching. We implement the proposed method on a real SVC-DASH system and evaluate its performance by subjective evaluations of multiple users. As a result, we confirm that the proposed algorithm can obtain better mean opinion score (MOS) value than a conventional SVC-DASH, and confirm that the proposed algorithm is effective to improve QoE performance in SVC-DASH.

In this paper, we propose a novel layered scalable- multiple description coding (LS-MDC) which offers the benefits of both scalable video coding and multiple description coding for robust video transmission over packet lossy networks. In the proposed LS-MDC method, multiple descriptions including base layer, enhancement layers, and their corresponding FEC parity data are allocated into two network paths of a path diversity system. Unlike the conventional approaches, the source base/enhancement data and their own parities in the proposed method are not transmitted together but are transferred over different paths. Therefore, the effect of burst packet losses can be effectively reduced for the descriptions. Furthermore, in order to minimize the overall distortion for the LS-MDC system and exploit the benefits of path diversity, we also propose an optimal rate allocation scheme that can adaptively control the transmission rate as well as the channel coding rate for media senders. Experiments show that the proposed method provides much better peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) than conventional MDC techniques.

This paper proposes Burst Error Resilient coding (BRC) technology in mobile broadcasting network. The proposed method utilizes Scalable Video Coding (SVC) and Forward Error Correction (FEC) to overcome service outage due to burst loss in mobile network. The performance evaluation is performed by comparing PSNR of SVC and the proposed method under MBSFN simulation channel. The simulation result shows PSNR of SVC equal error protection (EEP), unequal error protection (UEP) and proposed BRC using Raptor FEC code.

Scalable video coding with different modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) applied to different video layers is very appropriate for wireless multicast services because it can provide different video quality to different users according to their channel conditions, and a promising solution to handle packet losses induced by fading wireless channels is the use of layered hybrid FEC/ARQ scheme according to light-weight feedback messages from users about how many packets they have received. It is important to choose an appropriate MCS for each layer, decide how many parity packets in one layer should be transmitted, and determine the resources allocated to multiple video sessions to apply scalable video coding to wireless multicast streaming. We prove that such resource allocation problem is NP-hard and propose an approximate optimal algorithm with a polynomial run time. The algorithm can get the optimal transmission configuration to maximize the expected utility for all users where the utility can be a generic non-negative, non-decreasing function of the received rate. The results from simulations revealed that our algorithm offer significant improvements to video quality over a nave algorithm, an optimal algorithm without feedback from users, and an algorithm with feedback from designated users, especially in scenarios with multiple video sessions and limited radio resources.

This paper proposes a new selective encryption scheme and a key management scheme for layered access control of H.264/SVC. This scheme encrypts three domains in hierarchical layers using different keys: intra prediction modes, motion vector difference values and sign bits of texture data. The proposed scheme offers low computational complexity, low bit-overhead, and format compliance by utilizing the H.264/SVC structure. It provides a high encryption efficiency by encrypting domains selectively, according to each layer type in the enhancement-layer. It also provides confidentiality and implicit authentication using keys derived in the proposed key management scheme for encryption. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.