Resource-Aware Fuzzy Logic Control of Video Streaming over IP and Wireless Networks

Congestion control of real-time streaming a video clip or film across the Internet is vital, as network traffic volatility requires constant adjustment of the bit rate in order to reduce packet loss. Traditional solutions to congestion control are prone to delivery rate fluctuations and may respond only when packet loss has already occurred, while both fluctuations and packet loss seriously affect the end user’s appreciation of the delivered video. In this chapter, fuzzy logic control (FLC) is newly applied to control of video streaming in fixed and wireless networks. In a fixed network, by way of congestion control the encoded video bitstream’s rate is adjusted according to the available bandwidth. Compared to existing controllers, FLC’s sending rate is significantly smoother, allowing it to closely track available bandwidth at a bottleneck on the video stream’s path across a network. The chapter also shows that when multiple video streams are congestion controlled through FLC, the result is a fairer and more efficient sharing of the bandwidth capacity. Also considered is a pioneering application of FLC to wireless networks, where other resources, apart from available bandwidth, come into play. An FLC system has been designed that provides a modular solution to control of latency and energy consumption, which is important for battery-powered devices, but must be balanced against the quality of delivered video. The chapter concludes by presenting the potential of emerging type-2 fuzzy logic as a way of significantly improving the robustness of classical type-1 fuzzy logic.