Cross-Layer Optimization of Video Services over HSDPA Networks

In the third generation networks a quality of service is guaranteed for key applications, such as video streaming. However, all the packets belonging to one application are handled in the same way, even though they have different impact on the perceived quality. In this article we present a standard compliant cross layer optimization for video services. The importance of a packet, signalized at application level, is used to filter packets into different logical channels with different qualities of service. Simulations performed using a HSDPA system level simulator show that our implementation increases the video quality of over 0.6 dB.