Network resource allocation for competing multiple description transmissions

Ying Li, Chao Tian, Suhas Diggavi, Mung Chiang, A. Calderbank

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Providing real-time multimedia services over a besteffort network is challenging due to the stringent delay requirements in the presence of complex network dynamics. Multiple description (MD) coding is one approach to transmit the media over diverse (multiple) paths to reduce the detrimental effects caused by path failures or delay. The novelty of this work is to investigate the resource allocation in a network, where there are several competing MD coded streams. This is done by considering a framework that chooses the operating points for asymmetric MD coding to maximize total quality of the users, while these streams are sent over multiple routing paths. The framework is based on the theoretical modeling where we consider two descriptions and high source coding rate region approximated within small constants. We study the joint optimization of multimedia (source) coding and congestion control in wired networks. These ideas are extended to joint source coding and channel coding in wireless networks. In both situations, we propose distributed algorithms for optimal resource allocation. In the presence of path loss and competing users, the service quality to any particular MD stream could be uncertain. In such circumstances it might be tempting to expect that we need greater redundancy in the MD streams to protect against such failures. However, one surprising aspect of our study reveals that for large number of users who compete for the same resources, the overall system could benefit through opportunistic (hierarchical) strategies. In general networks, our studies indicate that the user composition varies from conservative to opportunistic operating points, depending on the number of users and their network vantage points.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5464249
Pages (from-to)1493-1504
Number of pages12
JournalIEEE Transactions on Communications
Volume58
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Congestion control
  • Data compression
  • Mathematical programming/optimization
  • Multipath routing
  • Multiple description
  • Network control by pricing
  • Network utility maximization
  • Queueing
  • Resource allocation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Network resource allocation for competing multiple description transmissions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this