Improving last-hop multicast streaming video over 802.11

In this paper we address the problem of robust realtime video streaming using multicast over wireless LANs. This scenario represents a significant challenge for existing 802.11 networks because it requires transmission over multiple unreliable channels to heterogeneous receivers with potentially different connection bit rates and very limited feedback information to the sender. The wireless channel is modeled as an equivalent multiple access packet erasure channel at the network level. We formulate the problem as an optimization of a regret criterion across the space of all users with the objective of maximizing the aggregate received quality. We formulate a proposed system solution that efficiently combines scalable source coding based on client rate adaptation coupled with channel packet erasure coding. Further work is required to validate the solution based on real-world wireless conditions in home and enterprise environments.