Multi-source video streaming in a wireless vehicular ad hoc network

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish under what conditions (mobility, network size, wireless channel) multi-source video streaming is feasible across a wireless Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET). Overlay networks with multiple sources have proven to be robust, distributed solutions to multimedia transport, including streaming. To achieve video streaming over a VANET overlay, this paper introduces a spatial partition of a video stream based on Flexible Macroblock Ordering. Tests show this can achieve a gain of over 5 dB in video quality (PSNR) depending on video content and packet loss rates. However, routing of streamed services over multiple hops and multiple paths may lead to significant packet losses, resulting in unacceptable quality of service. The paper examines the impact of differing traffic densities and road layouts upon an overlay network's performance. The work modeled the emerging IEEE 802.11p for wireless VANETs. The research demonstrates that the vehicles' mobility pattern and their drivers' behaviour need to be carefully modeled to determine signal reception. The paper also considers the impact of the wireless channel, which also should be more realistically modeled.

A new application-layer overlay platform for better connected vehicles

“…Many studies in VANET adopted the concept of overlay networks for various applications. [14][15][16][17] Some of them 14,15 have been considered as overlay VANET routing protocols in the sense that these previous studies choose landmarks or junctions as relay nodes and guide packets to traverse via the relay nodes. To effectively discover such overlay paths, these studies developed various algorithms using traffic density, the city map, transportation route information, and so on.…”

“…Also, several studies 16,17 develop overlay networks for peer-to-peer information retrieval. In particular, these studies focus on cooperative data sharing among nearby vehicles to reduce bandwidth overuse and to minimize redundant information.…”

Video Streaming over Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks: A Comparative Study and Future Perspectives

“…Following the trend of improving video streaming over VANET, the authors in (Qadri, et al, 2010) developed a method of video transmission in overlay vehicular environment. They used joint Multi-Description Coding (MDC) (Wang, Reibman and Lin, 2005) and spatial Flexible Macroblock Ordering (FMO) (Lambert, et al, 2006) to protect the video frames from the error-prone wireless channel.…”

Performance Evaluation of ADV with AODV for Real-time and Multimedia Applications in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs)

“…However, it must be the size of the overlays which is under strict control in VANET to avoid a surge in the movement of the competition between the nodes of overlay, leading to increases in the rate of acceptable packet loss [5]. The output of VANET Routing protocols rest on numerous parameters such as the mobility model, driving environment etc.…”