Scalable Joint Source-Network Error Control Coding for Overlay Video Streaming

Abstract— In this paper, we investigate a joint source-network coding scheme for adapting a scalable video bitstream. Both embedded bitstream and error-control codes are easily and precisely adapted in a multidimensional way at intermediate overlay nodes to satisfy multiple heterogeneous users without complex transcoding. These distributed nodes form an overlay service network, and adapt both the video bitstream and error-control codes based on both user video request and network conditions. Video coding functions are distributed across the video source and the network. A novel fine granular adaptive FEC scheme, a generalization of MD-FEC, is proposed for error recovery during video transmission to heterogeneous users. Encoding once, the new method can satisfy multiple heterogeneous users simultaneously without decoding/recoding FEC at intermediate network nodes.