Robust Internet video transmission based on scalable coding and unequal error protection

In this article we describe and investigate an Internet video streaming system based on a scalable video coder combined with unequal error protection that maintains an acceptable picture quality over a wide range of connection qualities. The proposed approach does not require any specific support from the network layer and is especially suited for Internet multicast applications where different users are perceiving different transmission conditions and no feedback channel can be employed. We derive a theoretical framework for the overall system by which the Internet packet loss behavior can be directly related to the picture quality perceived at the receiver. We demonstrate how this framework can be used to select appropriate parameter values for the overall system design. Experimental results show how the presented system achieves a gracefully degrading picture quality for packet losses up to 30%.