Video ads dissemination through WiFi-cellular hybrid networks

In this paper, we propose a method for video ads dissemination through a hybrid network consisting of WiFi and cellular networks, in order to provide timely delivery of video ads with preferred content to users according to the users' contexts. In recent years, video download/streaming services for cellular phones have already become popular. Among various video delivery services, a service for disseminating video ads according to the users' contexts is expected to achieve high advertising effects. However, context-aware video ads dissemination will consume large bandwidth since the size of video ad is rather large and the same ad is required at different time from various users. We propose a new video ads dissemination method for mobile terminals which utilizes both WiFi and cellular networks. In the proposed method, a file of video ad is divided into pieces and each node exchanges the pieces with neighbor nodes using WiFi ad hoc communication so that the usage of cellular network is reduced. In order to make the method works effectively for a large number of nodes, we propose an algorithm where mobile nodes autonomously and probabilistically decide their actions without a central control. Through simulations, we confirmed that our method reduces cellular network usage by about 93% compared with a case that all nodes download video ads via cellular network, and works effectively in cases with a large number of nodes and high mobility.