DMUST360: Distortion‐aware multicast‐unicast superposed transmission for multiuser 360‐degree video

Abstract

Abstract360‐degree video has gained popularity since it is associated with immersive user experience of virtual reality content. However, providing high‐quality 360‐degree video for a large number of users is difficult, especially in limited bandwidth conditions. Nonorthogonal multiple access technology‐enabled multicast offers a possible solution, but it also introduces some challenges, including in terms of satisfying users' individual requirements, ensuring video quality and so forth. In order to address these issues, we introduce a novel distortion‐aware multicast‐unicast superposed transmission scheme for multiuser 360‐degree video, which combines the advantages of multicast, unicast, and nonorthogonal multiple access technologies with consideration of the field of view of multiple users. To improve video quality, a distortion minimization problem is formulated. Based on matching theory, we proposed a multicast‐unicast coalition game algorithm to solve the problem efficiently. A series of trace‐driven simulations are carried out, which have shown the effectiveness of the proposed solution in terms of video quality and throughput.