Broadcast/multicast MPEG-2 video over wireless channels using header redundancy FEC strategies

In this paper, we address the issue of error control in transmitting MPEG-2 encoded video streams over broadband fixed wireless access networks for broadcast or multicast services. Because of the error-prone nature of wireless channels, error control is mandatory when MPEG-2 video streams are transported over wireless access networks to end user. To prevent overloading the reliable wireline networks error control has to be applied locally. FEC is a must for broadcast or multicast services. Because of the important role of MPEG-2 control information in the decoding process, it must be given priority service in the form of excess error protection in order to achieve the desired QoS. In this paper, a header redundancy FEC (HRFEC) strategy is introduced and an implementation of it (type-I HRFEC scheme) is described. The overhead and delay jitter associated with the type-I HRFEC is also estimated. Simulation results on the performance of type-I HRFEC indicates that it improves the reception statistics of MPEG-2 control. As a direct, the quality, measured in terms of objective grade point and PSNR of the reconstructed video sequence, is improved.