# Numeric Analysis for Relationship-Aware Scalable Streaming Scheme

Authors: Heung Ki Lee; Jaehee Jung; Kyung Jin Ahn; Hwa-Young Jeong; Gangman Yi
Journal: Journal of Applied Mathematics
 (2014)

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## Abstract

Frequent packet loss of media data is a critical problem that degrades the quality of streaming services over mobile networks. Packet loss invalidates frames containing lost packets and other related frames at the same time. Indirect loss caused by losing packets decreases the quality of streaming. A scalable streaming service can decrease the amount of dropped multimedia resulting from a single packet loss. Content providers typically divide one large media stream into several layers through a scalable streaming service and then provide each scalable layer to the user depending on the mobile network. Also, a scalable streaming service makes it possible to decode partial multimedia data depending on the relationship between frames and layers. Therefore, a scalable streaming service provides a way to decrease the wasted multimedia data when one packet is lost. However, the hierarchical structure between frames and layers of scalable streams determines the service quality of the scalable streaming service. Even if whole packets of layers are transmitted successfully, they cannot be decoded as a result of the absence of reference frames and layers. Therefore, the complicated relationship between frames and layers in a scalable stream increases the volume of abandoned layers. For providing a high-quality scalable streaming service, we choose a proper relationship between scalable layers as well as the amount of transmitted multimedia data depending on the network situation. We prove that a simple scalable scheme outperforms a complicated scheme in an error-prone network. We suggest an adaptive set-top box (AdaptiveSTB) to lower the dependency between scalable layers in a scalable stream. Also, we provide a numerical model to obtain the indirect loss of multimedia data and apply it to various multimedia streams. Our AdaptiveSTB enhances the quality of a scalable streaming service by removing indirect loss.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The motivation for this paper is to provide high-quality multimedia service over mobile networks. In a mobile network, two trends make it difficult to improve multimedia service. First, the introduction of smart phones has dramatically increased the volume of video traffic over mobile networks [1], with video consuming most of the available wireless resources [2]. Second, users expect a high-quality streaming service. Thus additional wireless resources are required to satisfy those users [1].In this paper, we present a solution for enhancing the quality of streaming services over mobile networks. One solution is to improve the capacities of wired and wireless links between the multimedia streaming server and the mobile client. However, updating the mobile network infrastructure is too expensive. Even though Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have continued to improve the speed of mobile networks, they cannot satisfy user thirst for high-quality multimedia services.Another solution is to decrease the error rate of mobile networks. Streaming services over mobile networks deliver media data under error-prone network environments [3, 4]. Also, users of mobile networks compete for limited wireless resources for receiving multimedia streams. Such severe competition dramatically increases the error rate of mobile networks. Therefore, the quality of the streaming service might be reduced by the increased error rate of mobile networks. However, we cannot control cross-traffic from other devices. In this paper we explore a third approach: decreasing the negative effect resulting from losing packets. Error propagation through direct or indirect lost packets worsens the quality of streaming services over mobile networks. As a result, the high quality of media data in mobile networks can lead to frustrating user experience because of frequent data buffering or distorted frames.To address this problem, content providers (CPs) calibrate streaming and cache servers through a scalable streaming scheme depending on network status. If the CP provides media at different qualities without a scalable streaming scheme, they would need to store all these different media on their own servers and incur costs associated with maintenance of redundant media of different quality. This would increase the cost of maintaining media streams [5–8]. However, a scalable streaming service divides one large media file into several layers. Therefore, by using a scalable streaming scheme, CPs can eliminate redundant stored media data. A scalable streaming scheme consists of a base layer and enhancement layers. The base layer is necessary for decoding; enhancement layers are not themselves decoded but they increase the quality of the streaming service. In a congested network, the mobile node just requests the base layer for seamless streaming. When the mobile network is stabilized, the CP provides all scalable layers including the base layer and enhancement layers to the user. Therefore the user can obtain streaming service with high quality.Figure1 shows an example of a scalable streaming service for a mobile network. One set-top box (STB) receives the scalable streams from the streaming server and then forwards scalable layers to mobile nodes including mobile phones and tablets. Usually, the STB is located at one place (e.g., a restaurant, a shop, or a bus station), so the network between the streaming server and the STB is a stable wired network that provides the connection without delay or lost packets during the streaming service. However, the wireless network between the STB and the mobile node is not guaranteed. In wireless networks, several mobile nodes share wireless resources for providing service to mobile users. Interference between mobile nodes can cause the network to drop or delay packets.Figure 1
Diagram of scalable streaming in a wireless environment.Regardless of the benefit of a scalable streaming service, the relationship between layers degrades the quality of the scalable streaming service over an error-prone network. Even though one layer is transmitted successfully, the absence of a reference layer wastes other related layers at the decoder. Therefore, the loss of one packet invalidates its own layer and its referring layer. To improve the performance of scalable streaming services over error-prone networks, we should reduce the dependency between layers, thereby decreasing the amount of related media data for one packet and wasted media data caused by single-packet loss. We suggest anadaptive set-top box (AdaptiveSTB) that lessens the dependency between layers transmitted over wireless networks. TheAdaptiveSTB is located between the wired network and the wireless network and converts complex hierarchical scalable streams into scalable streams consisting of layers with low dependency.In summary, in this paper we provide the following contributions. We present a service design for anAdaptiveSTB that decreases the dependence among scalable layers. OurAdaptiveSTB converts the receiving scalable streams with high dependency into scalable streams with low dependency. As a result, it decreases the indirect loss of media data and increases streaming service performance even over mobile networks. We then analyze a media scheme to convert scalable streams. Also we provide a numerical model for showing the amount of multimedia data. Finally, we apply ourAdaptiveSTB to various streams. In Section 2, we introduce existing adaptive scheme and scalable scheme in detail. Section 3 explains ourAdaptiveSTB in detail. Section 4 shows experiments for scalable streaming service and results, while Section 5 concludes this paper.


## 2. Related Work

### 2.1. Background

#### 2.1.1. Scalable Streaming versus Adaptive Streaming

There are two schemes for adapting the quality of multimedia stream services based on network status:adaptive streaming andscalable streaming.In an adaptive streaming scheme, redundant multimedia streams with different quality data are stored in a storage area. Based on the bandwidth, adaptive streaming schemes can switch which stream to send to the user. Figure2 shows a general adaptive streaming scheme. When the user initiates the adaptive streaming service, the user requests the metafile that describes which streams are available to the user. When the network is congested at the beginning of the streaming service, the adaptive streaming scheme selects the A1 media stream, which has the lowest quality. When the network condition becomes stable, the adaptive streaming scheme switches to the B2 media stream, which is of medium quality. When the network allows for higher quality streams, the user can request the C3 media stream, which has the highest quality. After that, the user changes to media streams with the lowest quality when the network is congested.Figure 2
Adaptive streaming scheme.Figure3 shows the scalable streaming scheme. With a scalable streaming service, one stream can be divided into several layers. The base layer can provide the streaming service by itself, but the quality is improved when more layers are included. Upon first use, the user requests the metafile that shows which multimedia streams can be served. The user selects the lowest stream that includes only the A1 base layer. When the network becomes stable, the user selects more layers with medium quality to add B2 enhancement layers to A2 base layers. When the available bandwidth of the network is approved for the highest quality of scalable streaming service, the user requests whole layers including one base layer A3 and two enhancement layers B3 and C3. The user only requests base layer A4 to save wireless resources over a congested network. The scalable streaming service provides the proper quality of the streaming service based on network conditions. Also, service providers can save space for storing media layers, thereby reducing the cost of maintaining the multimedia system.Figure 3
Scalable streaming scheme.


#### 2.1.2. Relationship between Frames

One media file has various frames, each of which shows one scene in the stream. There are three kinds of frames in the stream: the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame. The I frame contains all the information for showing one scene, whereas a decoder needs to be used to get additional information from other frames for decoding P or B frames. The P frame requires some information from the previous P or I frame, whereas the B frame needs to obtain information from the previous P or I frame and the future P or I frame at the same time.The hierarchical structure between frames is critical to determining the quality of the scalable streaming service. The relationship between layers determines which layer can be available at the decoder. The scalable stream extracts multiple layers from one stream following each policy. The referring layer cannot be decoded without the reference layer. Therefore, the scalable stream increases the dependency between layers, adding an interframe relationship, thereby complicating the relationship between layers and making them harder to decode.Figure4 shows the relationship between layers inMP4 scalable streaming. There are several scalable layers: the base layer (Layer 1) and several enhancement layers (Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4). Layer 1 is required for decoding the frame; Layer 2 improves the quality of Layer 1. Therefore, when Layer 1 is not available, Layer 2 cannot be decoded. Also, Layer 3 and Layer 4 are required above the scalable layers for each frame. The I frame can be decoded by itself, but the P frame refers to one previous frame. In Figure 4, only when Layer 1 of the I_1 frame is available can scalable layers of the P_5 frame be decoded. Also, the B frame requires two frames; it needs Layer 1 of the I_1 frame and Layer 1 of the P_5 frame.Figure 4
MP4 scalable streaming scheme.In Figure5, the I and P frames inH.264 scalable streaming require no frames or one frame for decoding a frame like MP4 scalable streaming. Also, the relationship between scalable layers at two frames is similar to that in MP4 scalable streaming, but B frames in H.264 scalable streaming require two or more frames to be decoded. In Figure 5, the B_2 frame requires three scalable layers: Layer 1 of the I_1 frame, Layer 1 of the P_5 frame, and Layer 1 of the B_3 frame. This complicated hierarchical structure between frames decreases the network’s availability for providing a temporal scalable streaming service.Figure 5
H.264 scalable streaming scheme.In this paper, we propose anAdaptiveSTB that improves the performance of scalable streaming by reducing the complexity of the relationships between layers. TheAdaptiveSTB receives the media data from the media server and forwards them to the client through a wireless network. TheAdaptiveSTB converts the H.264 scalable stream into an MP4 scalable stream before forwarding the cached media.


### 2.2. Previous Work

#### 2.2.1. Streaming Service

Numerous schemes have been proposed for handling partial errors in packets. To enhance the quality of a scalable streaming service, [9] increases the availability of the base layer through Multiple Description Coding (MDC). [1] suggests using the MDC scheme for devices with low computing power and narrow dynamic available bandwidth. Unequal Error Protection (UEP) in layer partitioning has been suggested to improve the performance of streaming in [10]. [11] adjusts the level of Forward Error Correction (FEC) for providing a scalable streaming service. [12] suggests using SoftCast to provide unequal error protection in the video encoding step in wireless networks. In [13], FlexCast selects critical bits of a video through distortion grouping for providing efficient video encoding schemes. [14] suggests a scheme in which a peer device forwards the receiving layers to other devices.Also, there has been much research on transcoding schemes. ISP proxies, a task dispatcher, and a client provide the transcoding scheme through multiple caching policies in [15]. [16] suggests using Hadoop to conduct a transcoding scheme for a variety of video content suitable under network conditions. In [17], CloudStream is used to enhance the performance through a parallel scheme in transcoding videos. [18] has evaluated the resource demand for a transcoding scheme in various media services.


#### 2.2.2. Use of Intermediate Nodes for Streaming Video

For improving streaming service quality, active intermediate nodes have been deployed during streaming [19–22]. When a network is congested, intermediate node degrades quality of the cached stream and then provides it to the mobile node in [19, 23].In [20, 24], an intermediate node removes the streaming data with large jitter. The intermediate node decides to retransmit the lost packet using the presentation time of the multimedia data in [21]. [22] suggests a scheme in which the intermediate node sends the lost section of multimedia to the user when the user is missing some section in the broadcasting service.A set-top box is an intermediate node located between the wired network and the wireless network through the streaming service. In [25], the STB consists of four blocks: a Media Codec, a Graphic Module, a Presentation Module, and a Network Module. [26] provided additional functions to the TV STB including video recording and adapting quality of recorded video. [27] detected the lost packets and jitter for improving service to the user. [28, 29] propose using video proxies to increase quality of the streaming service. Also, [30, 31] improve the performance through caching and prefetching strategies.


## 2.1. Background

### 2.1.1. Scalable Streaming versus Adaptive Streaming

There are two schemes for adapting the quality of multimedia stream services based on network status:adaptive streaming andscalable streaming.In an adaptive streaming scheme, redundant multimedia streams with different quality data are stored in a storage area. Based on the bandwidth, adaptive streaming schemes can switch which stream to send to the user. Figure2 shows a general adaptive streaming scheme. When the user initiates the adaptive streaming service, the user requests the metafile that describes which streams are available to the user. When the network is congested at the beginning of the streaming service, the adaptive streaming scheme selects the A1 media stream, which has the lowest quality. When the network condition becomes stable, the adaptive streaming scheme switches to the B2 media stream, which is of medium quality. When the network allows for higher quality streams, the user can request the C3 media stream, which has the highest quality. After that, the user changes to media streams with the lowest quality when the network is congested.Figure 2
Adaptive streaming scheme.Figure3 shows the scalable streaming scheme. With a scalable streaming service, one stream can be divided into several layers. The base layer can provide the streaming service by itself, but the quality is improved when more layers are included. Upon first use, the user requests the metafile that shows which multimedia streams can be served. The user selects the lowest stream that includes only the A1 base layer. When the network becomes stable, the user selects more layers with medium quality to add B2 enhancement layers to A2 base layers. When the available bandwidth of the network is approved for the highest quality of scalable streaming service, the user requests whole layers including one base layer A3 and two enhancement layers B3 and C3. The user only requests base layer A4 to save wireless resources over a congested network. The scalable streaming service provides the proper quality of the streaming service based on network conditions. Also, service providers can save space for storing media layers, thereby reducing the cost of maintaining the multimedia system.Figure 3
Scalable streaming scheme.


### 2.1.2. Relationship between Frames

One media file has various frames, each of which shows one scene in the stream. There are three kinds of frames in the stream: the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame. The I frame contains all the information for showing one scene, whereas a decoder needs to be used to get additional information from other frames for decoding P or B frames. The P frame requires some information from the previous P or I frame, whereas the B frame needs to obtain information from the previous P or I frame and the future P or I frame at the same time.The hierarchical structure between frames is critical to determining the quality of the scalable streaming service. The relationship between layers determines which layer can be available at the decoder. The scalable stream extracts multiple layers from one stream following each policy. The referring layer cannot be decoded without the reference layer. Therefore, the scalable stream increases the dependency between layers, adding an interframe relationship, thereby complicating the relationship between layers and making them harder to decode.Figure4 shows the relationship between layers inMP4 scalable streaming. There are several scalable layers: the base layer (Layer 1) and several enhancement layers (Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4). Layer 1 is required for decoding the frame; Layer 2 improves the quality of Layer 1. Therefore, when Layer 1 is not available, Layer 2 cannot be decoded. Also, Layer 3 and Layer 4 are required above the scalable layers for each frame. The I frame can be decoded by itself, but the P frame refers to one previous frame. In Figure 4, only when Layer 1 of the I_1 frame is available can scalable layers of the P_5 frame be decoded. Also, the B frame requires two frames; it needs Layer 1 of the I_1 frame and Layer 1 of the P_5 frame.Figure 4
MP4 scalable streaming scheme.In Figure5, the I and P frames inH.264 scalable streaming require no frames or one frame for decoding a frame like MP4 scalable streaming. Also, the relationship between scalable layers at two frames is similar to that in MP4 scalable streaming, but B frames in H.264 scalable streaming require two or more frames to be decoded. In Figure 5, the B_2 frame requires three scalable layers: Layer 1 of the I_1 frame, Layer 1 of the P_5 frame, and Layer 1 of the B_3 frame. This complicated hierarchical structure between frames decreases the network’s availability for providing a temporal scalable streaming service.Figure 5
H.264 scalable streaming scheme.In this paper, we propose anAdaptiveSTB that improves the performance of scalable streaming by reducing the complexity of the relationships between layers. TheAdaptiveSTB receives the media data from the media server and forwards them to the client through a wireless network. TheAdaptiveSTB converts the H.264 scalable stream into an MP4 scalable stream before forwarding the cached media.


## 2.1.1. Scalable Streaming versus Adaptive Streaming

There are two schemes for adapting the quality of multimedia stream services based on network status:adaptive streaming andscalable streaming.In an adaptive streaming scheme, redundant multimedia streams with different quality data are stored in a storage area. Based on the bandwidth, adaptive streaming schemes can switch which stream to send to the user. Figure2 shows a general adaptive streaming scheme. When the user initiates the adaptive streaming service, the user requests the metafile that describes which streams are available to the user. When the network is congested at the beginning of the streaming service, the adaptive streaming scheme selects the A1 media stream, which has the lowest quality. When the network condition becomes stable, the adaptive streaming scheme switches to the B2 media stream, which is of medium quality. When the network allows for higher quality streams, the user can request the C3 media stream, which has the highest quality. After that, the user changes to media streams with the lowest quality when the network is congested.Figure 2
Adaptive streaming scheme.Figure3 shows the scalable streaming scheme. With a scalable streaming service, one stream can be divided into several layers. The base layer can provide the streaming service by itself, but the quality is improved when more layers are included. Upon first use, the user requests the metafile that shows which multimedia streams can be served. The user selects the lowest stream that includes only the A1 base layer. When the network becomes stable, the user selects more layers with medium quality to add B2 enhancement layers to A2 base layers. When the available bandwidth of the network is approved for the highest quality of scalable streaming service, the user requests whole layers including one base layer A3 and two enhancement layers B3 and C3. The user only requests base layer A4 to save wireless resources over a congested network. The scalable streaming service provides the proper quality of the streaming service based on network conditions. Also, service providers can save space for storing media layers, thereby reducing the cost of maintaining the multimedia system.Figure 3
Scalable streaming scheme.


## 2.1.2. Relationship between Frames

One media file has various frames, each of which shows one scene in the stream. There are three kinds of frames in the stream: the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame. The I frame contains all the information for showing one scene, whereas a decoder needs to be used to get additional information from other frames for decoding P or B frames. The P frame requires some information from the previous P or I frame, whereas the B frame needs to obtain information from the previous P or I frame and the future P or I frame at the same time.The hierarchical structure between frames is critical to determining the quality of the scalable streaming service. The relationship between layers determines which layer can be available at the decoder. The scalable stream extracts multiple layers from one stream following each policy. The referring layer cannot be decoded without the reference layer. Therefore, the scalable stream increases the dependency between layers, adding an interframe relationship, thereby complicating the relationship between layers and making them harder to decode.Figure4 shows the relationship between layers inMP4 scalable streaming. There are several scalable layers: the base layer (Layer 1) and several enhancement layers (Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4). Layer 1 is required for decoding the frame; Layer 2 improves the quality of Layer 1. Therefore, when Layer 1 is not available, Layer 2 cannot be decoded. Also, Layer 3 and Layer 4 are required above the scalable layers for each frame. The I frame can be decoded by itself, but the P frame refers to one previous frame. In Figure 4, only when Layer 1 of the I_1 frame is available can scalable layers of the P_5 frame be decoded. Also, the B frame requires two frames; it needs Layer 1 of the I_1 frame and Layer 1 of the P_5 frame.Figure 4
MP4 scalable streaming scheme.In Figure5, the I and P frames inH.264 scalable streaming require no frames or one frame for decoding a frame like MP4 scalable streaming. Also, the relationship between scalable layers at two frames is similar to that in MP4 scalable streaming, but B frames in H.264 scalable streaming require two or more frames to be decoded. In Figure 5, the B_2 frame requires three scalable layers: Layer 1 of the I_1 frame, Layer 1 of the P_5 frame, and Layer 1 of the B_3 frame. This complicated hierarchical structure between frames decreases the network’s availability for providing a temporal scalable streaming service.Figure 5
H.264 scalable streaming scheme.In this paper, we propose anAdaptiveSTB that improves the performance of scalable streaming by reducing the complexity of the relationships between layers. TheAdaptiveSTB receives the media data from the media server and forwards them to the client through a wireless network. TheAdaptiveSTB converts the H.264 scalable stream into an MP4 scalable stream before forwarding the cached media.


## 2.2. Previous Work

### 2.2.1. Streaming Service

Numerous schemes have been proposed for handling partial errors in packets. To enhance the quality of a scalable streaming service, [9] increases the availability of the base layer through Multiple Description Coding (MDC). [1] suggests using the MDC scheme for devices with low computing power and narrow dynamic available bandwidth. Unequal Error Protection (UEP) in layer partitioning has been suggested to improve the performance of streaming in [10]. [11] adjusts the level of Forward Error Correction (FEC) for providing a scalable streaming service. [12] suggests using SoftCast to provide unequal error protection in the video encoding step in wireless networks. In [13], FlexCast selects critical bits of a video through distortion grouping for providing efficient video encoding schemes. [14] suggests a scheme in which a peer device forwards the receiving layers to other devices.Also, there has been much research on transcoding schemes. ISP proxies, a task dispatcher, and a client provide the transcoding scheme through multiple caching policies in [15]. [16] suggests using Hadoop to conduct a transcoding scheme for a variety of video content suitable under network conditions. In [17], CloudStream is used to enhance the performance through a parallel scheme in transcoding videos. [18] has evaluated the resource demand for a transcoding scheme in various media services.


### 2.2.2. Use of Intermediate Nodes for Streaming Video

For improving streaming service quality, active intermediate nodes have been deployed during streaming [19–22]. When a network is congested, intermediate node degrades quality of the cached stream and then provides it to the mobile node in [19, 23].In [20, 24], an intermediate node removes the streaming data with large jitter. The intermediate node decides to retransmit the lost packet using the presentation time of the multimedia data in [21]. [22] suggests a scheme in which the intermediate node sends the lost section of multimedia to the user when the user is missing some section in the broadcasting service.A set-top box is an intermediate node located between the wired network and the wireless network through the streaming service. In [25], the STB consists of four blocks: a Media Codec, a Graphic Module, a Presentation Module, and a Network Module. [26] provided additional functions to the TV STB including video recording and adapting quality of recorded video. [27] detected the lost packets and jitter for improving service to the user. [28, 29] propose using video proxies to increase quality of the streaming service. Also, [30, 31] improve the performance through caching and prefetching strategies.


## 2.2.1. Streaming Service

Numerous schemes have been proposed for handling partial errors in packets. To enhance the quality of a scalable streaming service, [9] increases the availability of the base layer through Multiple Description Coding (MDC). [1] suggests using the MDC scheme for devices with low computing power and narrow dynamic available bandwidth. Unequal Error Protection (UEP) in layer partitioning has been suggested to improve the performance of streaming in [10]. [11] adjusts the level of Forward Error Correction (FEC) for providing a scalable streaming service. [12] suggests using SoftCast to provide unequal error protection in the video encoding step in wireless networks. In [13], FlexCast selects critical bits of a video through distortion grouping for providing efficient video encoding schemes. [14] suggests a scheme in which a peer device forwards the receiving layers to other devices.Also, there has been much research on transcoding schemes. ISP proxies, a task dispatcher, and a client provide the transcoding scheme through multiple caching policies in [15]. [16] suggests using Hadoop to conduct a transcoding scheme for a variety of video content suitable under network conditions. In [17], CloudStream is used to enhance the performance through a parallel scheme in transcoding videos. [18] has evaluated the resource demand for a transcoding scheme in various media services.


## 2.2.2. Use of Intermediate Nodes for Streaming Video

For improving streaming service quality, active intermediate nodes have been deployed during streaming [19–22]. When a network is congested, intermediate node degrades quality of the cached stream and then provides it to the mobile node in [19, 23].In [20, 24], an intermediate node removes the streaming data with large jitter. The intermediate node decides to retransmit the lost packet using the presentation time of the multimedia data in [21]. [22] suggests a scheme in which the intermediate node sends the lost section of multimedia to the user when the user is missing some section in the broadcasting service.A set-top box is an intermediate node located between the wired network and the wireless network through the streaming service. In [25], the STB consists of four blocks: a Media Codec, a Graphic Module, a Presentation Module, and a Network Module. [26] provided additional functions to the TV STB including video recording and adapting quality of recorded video. [27] detected the lost packets and jitter for improving service to the user. [28, 29] propose using video proxies to increase quality of the streaming service. Also, [30, 31] improve the performance through caching and prefetching strategies.


## 3. Adaptive Set-Top Box

### 3.1. Simple Scalable Streaming Service

The quality of a scalable streaming service is influenced by the dependency among the scalable layers in a scalable streaming service. The hierarchical relationship between scalable layers determines the decoding possibilities for transmitting the packet to the client over the wireless network. When reference frames are not transmitted successfully, the referring frames cannot be decoded. The complicated reference relationships between scalable layers of H.264 streaming increases the possibility of discarding the referring frame. Figures4 and 5 show the relationship between scalable layers in a scalable streaming scheme. In MP4 scalable streaming, whole B frames require two frames, including an I frame or a P frame. Even though other B frames are dropped, the transmitted B frame can be decoded. When B_3 and B_4 frames are dropped, the B_2 frame can be decoded. However, in H.264 scalable streaming, a complicated relationship exists between B frames. When B_3 and B_4 frames are dropped, the B_2 frame cannot be decoded.


### 3.2.AdaptiveSTB

OurAdaptiveSTB decreases the dependency among scalable layers in scalable streaming, thereby enhancing the performance of the streaming service in wireless environments. For the decoding layer in a scalable stream, the decoder needs to obtain information from other reference layers and know the dependency between scalable layers. When reference layers are lost, the decoder discards the referring layers. For enhancing the quality of a scalable streaming service, it is critical to decrease such indirect loss. OurAdaptiveSTB converts H.264 scalable streaming into MP4 scalable streaming before transmitting layers over the wireless network.When whole packets are available, the layer can be decoded in the scalable stream. When one packet is lost, other data in the layer cannot be used for the decoding. Therefore, validation of the layer can be assured only when all its packets are available. Based on the terms in Table1, the validity of the scalable layer is given by
(1)VLIg,f,k=∏s=1NPg,f,k‍(1-PLR(Pg,f,k,s)).Table 1
Scalable streaming conversion variables.
G
g
Thegth GoV in the stream
F
g
,
f
Thefth frame at the gth group of video (GoV)
RF(j,g,f)
Thejth reference frame of the fth frame at the gth GoV
L
g
,
f
,
k
Thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
P
g
,
f
,
k
,
s
Thesth packet in the kth layer of the fth frame  at the gth GoV
NG
Number of GoVs in the multimedia stream
NF
g
Number of frames at thegth GoV
NRF
g
Number of reference frames of thefth frame at the gth GoV
NL
g
,
f
Number of layers of thefth frame at the gth GoV
NP
g
,
f
,
k
Number of packets in thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
PLR
Packet loss rate
VLI
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
VLV
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV under the relationship between scalable layers in the same frame
VLH
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV in the streamWhen the error rate of the wireless link increases, most discarded scalable layers do not satisfy this equation. One frame is divided into several layers, so the reference layer is required to decode the referring scalable layer in the scalable streaming service. The number of scalable layers available is based on the vertical dependency among scalable layers. The validity of the scalable layer is given by(2)VLVg,f,k=∏j=1k∏s=1NPg,f,j(1-PLR(Pg,f,j,s)).Finally, the decoder should check whether reference frames are available. The decoder does not require all the scalable layers of the reference frame to decode the referring frame. If the first layer of the reference frame is available, the reference frame can be decoded, and the validity of the scalable layer in the stream is given by(3)VLHg,f,k=∏j=1NRFg‍(VLHg,RF(j,g,f),1)×∏j=1k‍∏s=1NPg,f,j‍(1-PLR(Pg,f,j,s)).When the error rate of the wireless link decreases, most of the discarded scalable layers will not satisfy this equation.


## 3.1. Simple Scalable Streaming Service

The quality of a scalable streaming service is influenced by the dependency among the scalable layers in a scalable streaming service. The hierarchical relationship between scalable layers determines the decoding possibilities for transmitting the packet to the client over the wireless network. When reference frames are not transmitted successfully, the referring frames cannot be decoded. The complicated reference relationships between scalable layers of H.264 streaming increases the possibility of discarding the referring frame. Figures4 and 5 show the relationship between scalable layers in a scalable streaming scheme. In MP4 scalable streaming, whole B frames require two frames, including an I frame or a P frame. Even though other B frames are dropped, the transmitted B frame can be decoded. When B_3 and B_4 frames are dropped, the B_2 frame can be decoded. However, in H.264 scalable streaming, a complicated relationship exists between B frames. When B_3 and B_4 frames are dropped, the B_2 frame cannot be decoded.


## 3.2.AdaptiveSTB

OurAdaptiveSTB decreases the dependency among scalable layers in scalable streaming, thereby enhancing the performance of the streaming service in wireless environments. For the decoding layer in a scalable stream, the decoder needs to obtain information from other reference layers and know the dependency between scalable layers. When reference layers are lost, the decoder discards the referring layers. For enhancing the quality of a scalable streaming service, it is critical to decrease such indirect loss. OurAdaptiveSTB converts H.264 scalable streaming into MP4 scalable streaming before transmitting layers over the wireless network.When whole packets are available, the layer can be decoded in the scalable stream. When one packet is lost, other data in the layer cannot be used for the decoding. Therefore, validation of the layer can be assured only when all its packets are available. Based on the terms in Table1, the validity of the scalable layer is given by
(1)VLIg,f,k=∏s=1NPg,f,k‍(1-PLR(Pg,f,k,s)).Table 1
Scalable streaming conversion variables.
G
g
Thegth GoV in the stream
F
g
,
f
Thefth frame at the gth group of video (GoV)
RF(j,g,f)
Thejth reference frame of the fth frame at the gth GoV
L
g
,
f
,
k
Thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
P
g
,
f
,
k
,
s
Thesth packet in the kth layer of the fth frame  at the gth GoV
NG
Number of GoVs in the multimedia stream
NF
g
Number of frames at thegth GoV
NRF
g
Number of reference frames of thefth frame at the gth GoV
NL
g
,
f
Number of layers of thefth frame at the gth GoV
NP
g
,
f
,
k
Number of packets in thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
PLR
Packet loss rate
VLI
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV
VLV
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV under the relationship between scalable layers in the same frame
VLH
g
,
f
,
k
Validity of thekth layer of the fth frame at the gth GoV in the streamWhen the error rate of the wireless link increases, most discarded scalable layers do not satisfy this equation. One frame is divided into several layers, so the reference layer is required to decode the referring scalable layer in the scalable streaming service. The number of scalable layers available is based on the vertical dependency among scalable layers. The validity of the scalable layer is given by(2)VLVg,f,k=∏j=1k∏s=1NPg,f,j(1-PLR(Pg,f,j,s)).Finally, the decoder should check whether reference frames are available. The decoder does not require all the scalable layers of the reference frame to decode the referring frame. If the first layer of the reference frame is available, the reference frame can be decoded, and the validity of the scalable layer in the stream is given by(3)VLHg,f,k=∏j=1NRFg‍(VLHg,RF(j,g,f),1)×∏j=1k‍∏s=1NPg,f,j‍(1-PLR(Pg,f,j,s)).When the error rate of the wireless link decreases, most of the discarded scalable layers will not satisfy this equation.


## 4. Experimental Result

For verifying the performance of ourAdaptiveSTB, we conducted a network simulation on an NS-2 simulator [32] based on data extracted from real scalable streaming data. We downloaded five movie trailer clips and one video clip from the Internet, then generated scalable layers from them using a scalable encoder.


### 4.1. Scalable Multimedia

We used the Joint Scalable Video Model (JSVM) [33] for generating scalable layers from six H.264 streams. We created five scalable layers from several original streams. The following configuration is used for generating scalable streams. QP in Table 2 stands for a quantization parameter. This value divides pixel information at each frame. Therefore, detailed pixel information for each frame is saved when QP is small. The frame rates indicate how many frames are displayed in a second. High-frame-rate streams achieve smooth transitions between frames. The frame size gives the width and height of a scalable stream. A scalable stream with a large frame size can hold more pixel information.Table 2
Scalable streams.
Layer
QP
Frame rate
Frame size
0
38.0
15
320× 240
1
32.0
30
320× 240
2
30.0
30
320× 240
3
28.0
30
640× 480
4
26.0
30
640× 480Layer 0 is encoded at 15 frames per seconds (fps) with a QP of 38. In addition, the resolution of the base layer is suitable for a320×240 display. When Layer 1 is added, the frame rates are increased to 30 fps and QP is decreased to 32. This provides a clear scene for the user. As more scalable layers become available at the scalable decoder, the quality of the scalable streaming service increases. Of the movie and video clips we used (see Table 3) for simulation,Amazing Caves andTo the Limit are adventure movie, so scenes can change quickly.The Bourne Ultimatum andFantastic 4 are action movies where variance between frames is large. Scenes do not change quickly inI Am Legend andForeman.Table 3
Scalable streams.
Frame name
Genre
Number of frames
Amazing Caves
Adventure
2031
The Bourne Ultimatum
Action
2125
I Am legend
Drama
2397
Fantastic 4
Action
3017
Foreman
Video Clip
399
To the Limit
Adventure
919


### 4.2. Simulation Environments

Figure6 shows an overall diagram of our network simulation with scalable streams. For verifying the performance of ourAdaptiveSTB, we generated real scalable layers using the JSVM codec from real media streams and then obtained type, time, and size of each frame for a scalable layer. Based on gathering frame information from scalable layers, we ran a network simulation using an NS-2 simulator. In the network simulation, a stream server transfers multimedia data based on the obtained size information from real scalable layers. The capacity of the wired connection between the stream server and the STB was 100 Mbps; the wireless nodes were connected through a 10 Mbps wireless link. We ran simulations with various error rates.Figure 6
Simulation environment.In Figure6, the client for streaming service checks the arrival time of each incoming packet from the stream server. If the packet has already been transmitted at the obtained frame time of the multimedia data in the packet, the client for streaming service can decode the multimedia data in the packet. For example, multimedia data that should be displayed four minutes after starting play is delivered three minutes after the first multimedia data arrived. The delivered multimedia data can be decoded at the client for streaming service. However, if the multimedia data are delivered five minutes later, they are discarded.MPEG standards recommend that the decoder skip corrupted multimedia data in the next synchronization position (e.g.,start code orresync code) to reduce errors. The STB can check the received scalable layer for detectable corrupted scalable layers and then skip the corrupted multimedia data caused by other dropped or delayed packets. However, because we cannot use real multimedia data in our network simulation, it is difficult to ascertain how much multimedia data are corrupted by lost or delayed packets.For detecting corrupted multimedia data in the simulation, the stream server adds more information to the generating packets, including frame_no, frame_seq, layer_id, and frame_flag. Here, frame_no stands for the order of the transmitted frame, and frame_seq is the sequence number of the packets. OurAdaptiveSTB can detect lost packets using frame_seq. The label layer_id identifies the scalable layer as Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, or Layer 4. Lastly, frame_flag indicates whether the packet is the first packet (frame_flag = 0), an intermediate packet (frame_flag = 1), or the last packet (frame_flag = 2) in the frame.Figure7 shows that each packet contains four pieces of information in the following order: frame_no, frame_seq, frame_flag, layer_id, and data. In the information, the first information shows frame_no. OurAdaptiveSTB identifies packets using frame_no, frame_seq, and layer_id. The decoder at the client for streaming service checks whether scalable layers are available based on additional information including frame_no, frame_seq, layer_id, and frame_flag.Figure 7
Simulation packet management.


### 4.3. Simulation Results

#### 4.3.1. Indirect Loss

Figure8 shows the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data from the STB. In the figure, the x-axis is the error rate over the wireless network, and the y-axis is the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data in the client for streaming service. The interframe encoding scheme in the MPEG standard means that some portions of the frame are referred from other frames, but this scheme increases the dependency among frames and the possibility of discarding received frames by the client for streaming service. Such a discarding of frames reduces the chance to transmit other scalable layers. In our simulation based on real scalable streams, MP4 scalable streaming outperformed H.264 scalable streaming. The high complexity of H.264 scalable streaming increases the number of discarded scalable layers indirectly.Ratio between indirect lost layers and received layers.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Amazing Caves is a high-quality stream; therefore, the size of one frame is huge. It is difficult for all the packets in the frame to be delivered at the client for streaming service before decoding the frame. There is a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H.264 scalable streaming when the low error rate over the wireless network is low, but when error rate increases, there is no difference between the two schemes. Most scalable layers do not satisfy (1), so incomplete scalable layers are discarded directly. The simulation results ofThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend appear to be similar to those ofAmazing Caves. At low error rate, the ratio between indirect lost scalable layers and received scalable layers of MP4 scalable streaming is smaller than that of H.264 scalable streaming.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, the size of frames is relatively small. The small number of packets generated in one frame increases the possibility of decoding the scalable layer. The client for streaming service decodes scalable layers according to (3).


#### 4.3.2. Decoding Frame

Figures9 and 10 show the ratio between transmitted multimedia data and decoded multimedia data. Figure 9 shows how many bytes are displayed, and Figure 10 shows how many frames are available to the user. These two graphs show similar results. However, the ratio between B frames and I frames in the stream gives a different result.Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on bytes).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on frames).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)In Figure9, the x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between the size of the decoded multimedia data at the client for streaming service and the size of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB. High ratios mean that most of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB are decoded, so streaming services with high ratios can provide clear streams to users.InAmazing Caves, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits a higher ratio than H264 scalable streaming at lower error rates, but the two schemes are similar at high error rate. Most multimedia data are dropped because they do not satisfy (1).The Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend exhibit similar results.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits higher ratios than H264 scalable streaming at all error rates, which means that more multimedia data are transmitted in MP4 scalable streaming. The size of frames inFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit are relatively smaller than those of other streams. One frame is divided into a small number of packets, so more multimedia data can satisfy (1). The multimedia data are decoded by using (3).Figure10 shows the ratio between transmitted scalable layers from the STB and decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service. The x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service and transmitted scalable layers from the STB. High ratios between decoded layers and transmitted layer indicate that many scalable layers are decoded among the transmitted scalable layers, meaning that the STB provides a good quality scalable streaming service.In theAmazing Caves, a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H264 scalable streaming is distinguishable at low error rate. However, the gap closes at high error rate as the result of the discarding of most scalable layers. Such simulation results follow according to (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend, more frames in MP4 scalable streaming are decoded than in H264 scalable streaming at low error rate, but, as error rate increases, the client for streaming service drops more receiving scalable layers following (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum, H264 scalable streaming is better than MP4 scalable streaming even at some high error rates. At low error rate forThe Bourne Ultimatum, the ratio of scalable layers in Figure 10 is higher than the ratio of multimedia data in Figure 9.The Bourne Ultimatum contains a high ratio of B frames, so the ratio of scalable layers is increased for a small ratio of multimedia data.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming outperforms H264 scalable streaming for all error rates. In those streams, one frame is divided into a small number of packets, so the scalable layers themselves are available from (1). Most of discarded scalable layers do not satisfy (3).Our simulation results show that a scalable scheme with low dependence among scalable layers provides good service to users. At low wireless network error rates, the relationship among scalable layers determines the quality of scalable streams; this is especially critical for streams with small sized frames.


## 4.1. Scalable Multimedia

We used the Joint Scalable Video Model (JSVM) [33] for generating scalable layers from six H.264 streams. We created five scalable layers from several original streams. The following configuration is used for generating scalable streams. QP in Table 2 stands for a quantization parameter. This value divides pixel information at each frame. Therefore, detailed pixel information for each frame is saved when QP is small. The frame rates indicate how many frames are displayed in a second. High-frame-rate streams achieve smooth transitions between frames. The frame size gives the width and height of a scalable stream. A scalable stream with a large frame size can hold more pixel information.Table 2
Scalable streams.
Layer
QP
Frame rate
Frame size
0
38.0
15
320× 240
1
32.0
30
320× 240
2
30.0
30
320× 240
3
28.0
30
640× 480
4
26.0
30
640× 480Layer 0 is encoded at 15 frames per seconds (fps) with a QP of 38. In addition, the resolution of the base layer is suitable for a320×240 display. When Layer 1 is added, the frame rates are increased to 30 fps and QP is decreased to 32. This provides a clear scene for the user. As more scalable layers become available at the scalable decoder, the quality of the scalable streaming service increases. Of the movie and video clips we used (see Table 3) for simulation,Amazing Caves andTo the Limit are adventure movie, so scenes can change quickly.The Bourne Ultimatum andFantastic 4 are action movies where variance between frames is large. Scenes do not change quickly inI Am Legend andForeman.Table 3
Scalable streams.
Frame name
Genre
Number of frames
Amazing Caves
Adventure
2031
The Bourne Ultimatum
Action
2125
I Am legend
Drama
2397
Fantastic 4
Action
3017
Foreman
Video Clip
399
To the Limit
Adventure
919


## 4.2. Simulation Environments

Figure6 shows an overall diagram of our network simulation with scalable streams. For verifying the performance of ourAdaptiveSTB, we generated real scalable layers using the JSVM codec from real media streams and then obtained type, time, and size of each frame for a scalable layer. Based on gathering frame information from scalable layers, we ran a network simulation using an NS-2 simulator. In the network simulation, a stream server transfers multimedia data based on the obtained size information from real scalable layers. The capacity of the wired connection between the stream server and the STB was 100 Mbps; the wireless nodes were connected through a 10 Mbps wireless link. We ran simulations with various error rates.Figure 6
Simulation environment.In Figure6, the client for streaming service checks the arrival time of each incoming packet from the stream server. If the packet has already been transmitted at the obtained frame time of the multimedia data in the packet, the client for streaming service can decode the multimedia data in the packet. For example, multimedia data that should be displayed four minutes after starting play is delivered three minutes after the first multimedia data arrived. The delivered multimedia data can be decoded at the client for streaming service. However, if the multimedia data are delivered five minutes later, they are discarded.MPEG standards recommend that the decoder skip corrupted multimedia data in the next synchronization position (e.g.,start code orresync code) to reduce errors. The STB can check the received scalable layer for detectable corrupted scalable layers and then skip the corrupted multimedia data caused by other dropped or delayed packets. However, because we cannot use real multimedia data in our network simulation, it is difficult to ascertain how much multimedia data are corrupted by lost or delayed packets.For detecting corrupted multimedia data in the simulation, the stream server adds more information to the generating packets, including frame_no, frame_seq, layer_id, and frame_flag. Here, frame_no stands for the order of the transmitted frame, and frame_seq is the sequence number of the packets. OurAdaptiveSTB can detect lost packets using frame_seq. The label layer_id identifies the scalable layer as Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, or Layer 4. Lastly, frame_flag indicates whether the packet is the first packet (frame_flag = 0), an intermediate packet (frame_flag = 1), or the last packet (frame_flag = 2) in the frame.Figure7 shows that each packet contains four pieces of information in the following order: frame_no, frame_seq, frame_flag, layer_id, and data. In the information, the first information shows frame_no. OurAdaptiveSTB identifies packets using frame_no, frame_seq, and layer_id. The decoder at the client for streaming service checks whether scalable layers are available based on additional information including frame_no, frame_seq, layer_id, and frame_flag.Figure 7
Simulation packet management.


## 4.3. Simulation Results

### 4.3.1. Indirect Loss

Figure8 shows the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data from the STB. In the figure, the x-axis is the error rate over the wireless network, and the y-axis is the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data in the client for streaming service. The interframe encoding scheme in the MPEG standard means that some portions of the frame are referred from other frames, but this scheme increases the dependency among frames and the possibility of discarding received frames by the client for streaming service. Such a discarding of frames reduces the chance to transmit other scalable layers. In our simulation based on real scalable streams, MP4 scalable streaming outperformed H.264 scalable streaming. The high complexity of H.264 scalable streaming increases the number of discarded scalable layers indirectly.Ratio between indirect lost layers and received layers.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Amazing Caves is a high-quality stream; therefore, the size of one frame is huge. It is difficult for all the packets in the frame to be delivered at the client for streaming service before decoding the frame. There is a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H.264 scalable streaming when the low error rate over the wireless network is low, but when error rate increases, there is no difference between the two schemes. Most scalable layers do not satisfy (1), so incomplete scalable layers are discarded directly. The simulation results ofThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend appear to be similar to those ofAmazing Caves. At low error rate, the ratio between indirect lost scalable layers and received scalable layers of MP4 scalable streaming is smaller than that of H.264 scalable streaming.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, the size of frames is relatively small. The small number of packets generated in one frame increases the possibility of decoding the scalable layer. The client for streaming service decodes scalable layers according to (3).


### 4.3.2. Decoding Frame

Figures9 and 10 show the ratio between transmitted multimedia data and decoded multimedia data. Figure 9 shows how many bytes are displayed, and Figure 10 shows how many frames are available to the user. These two graphs show similar results. However, the ratio between B frames and I frames in the stream gives a different result.Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on bytes).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on frames).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)In Figure9, the x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between the size of the decoded multimedia data at the client for streaming service and the size of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB. High ratios mean that most of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB are decoded, so streaming services with high ratios can provide clear streams to users.InAmazing Caves, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits a higher ratio than H264 scalable streaming at lower error rates, but the two schemes are similar at high error rate. Most multimedia data are dropped because they do not satisfy (1).The Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend exhibit similar results.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits higher ratios than H264 scalable streaming at all error rates, which means that more multimedia data are transmitted in MP4 scalable streaming. The size of frames inFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit are relatively smaller than those of other streams. One frame is divided into a small number of packets, so more multimedia data can satisfy (1). The multimedia data are decoded by using (3).Figure10 shows the ratio between transmitted scalable layers from the STB and decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service. The x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service and transmitted scalable layers from the STB. High ratios between decoded layers and transmitted layer indicate that many scalable layers are decoded among the transmitted scalable layers, meaning that the STB provides a good quality scalable streaming service.In theAmazing Caves, a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H264 scalable streaming is distinguishable at low error rate. However, the gap closes at high error rate as the result of the discarding of most scalable layers. Such simulation results follow according to (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend, more frames in MP4 scalable streaming are decoded than in H264 scalable streaming at low error rate, but, as error rate increases, the client for streaming service drops more receiving scalable layers following (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum, H264 scalable streaming is better than MP4 scalable streaming even at some high error rates. At low error rate forThe Bourne Ultimatum, the ratio of scalable layers in Figure 10 is higher than the ratio of multimedia data in Figure 9.The Bourne Ultimatum contains a high ratio of B frames, so the ratio of scalable layers is increased for a small ratio of multimedia data.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming outperforms H264 scalable streaming for all error rates. In those streams, one frame is divided into a small number of packets, so the scalable layers themselves are available from (1). Most of discarded scalable layers do not satisfy (3).Our simulation results show that a scalable scheme with low dependence among scalable layers provides good service to users. At low wireless network error rates, the relationship among scalable layers determines the quality of scalable streams; this is especially critical for streams with small sized frames.


## 4.3.1. Indirect Loss

Figure8 shows the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data from the STB. In the figure, the x-axis is the error rate over the wireless network, and the y-axis is the ratio between indirect lost multimedia data and received multimedia data in the client for streaming service. The interframe encoding scheme in the MPEG standard means that some portions of the frame are referred from other frames, but this scheme increases the dependency among frames and the possibility of discarding received frames by the client for streaming service. Such a discarding of frames reduces the chance to transmit other scalable layers. In our simulation based on real scalable streams, MP4 scalable streaming outperformed H.264 scalable streaming. The high complexity of H.264 scalable streaming increases the number of discarded scalable layers indirectly.Ratio between indirect lost layers and received layers.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Amazing Caves is a high-quality stream; therefore, the size of one frame is huge. It is difficult for all the packets in the frame to be delivered at the client for streaming service before decoding the frame. There is a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H.264 scalable streaming when the low error rate over the wireless network is low, but when error rate increases, there is no difference between the two schemes. Most scalable layers do not satisfy (1), so incomplete scalable layers are discarded directly. The simulation results ofThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend appear to be similar to those ofAmazing Caves. At low error rate, the ratio between indirect lost scalable layers and received scalable layers of MP4 scalable streaming is smaller than that of H.264 scalable streaming.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, the size of frames is relatively small. The small number of packets generated in one frame increases the possibility of decoding the scalable layer. The client for streaming service decodes scalable layers according to (3).


## 4.3.2. Decoding Frame

Figures9 and 10 show the ratio between transmitted multimedia data and decoded multimedia data. Figure 9 shows how many bytes are displayed, and Figure 10 shows how many frames are available to the user. These two graphs show similar results. However, the ratio between B frames and I frames in the stream gives a different result.Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on bytes).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)Ratio between decoded layers and sent layers (based on frames).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)In Figure9, the x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between the size of the decoded multimedia data at the client for streaming service and the size of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB. High ratios mean that most of the transmitted multimedia data from the STB are decoded, so streaming services with high ratios can provide clear streams to users.InAmazing Caves, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits a higher ratio than H264 scalable streaming at lower error rates, but the two schemes are similar at high error rate. Most multimedia data are dropped because they do not satisfy (1).The Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend exhibit similar results.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming exhibits higher ratios than H264 scalable streaming at all error rates, which means that more multimedia data are transmitted in MP4 scalable streaming. The size of frames inFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit are relatively smaller than those of other streams. One frame is divided into a small number of packets, so more multimedia data can satisfy (1). The multimedia data are decoded by using (3).Figure10 shows the ratio between transmitted scalable layers from the STB and decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service. The x-axis is the error rate of the wireless network and the y-axis is the ratio between decoded scalable layers at the client for streaming service and transmitted scalable layers from the STB. High ratios between decoded layers and transmitted layer indicate that many scalable layers are decoded among the transmitted scalable layers, meaning that the STB provides a good quality scalable streaming service.In theAmazing Caves, a gap between MP4 scalable streaming and H264 scalable streaming is distinguishable at low error rate. However, the gap closes at high error rate as the result of the discarding of most scalable layers. Such simulation results follow according to (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum andI Am Legend, more frames in MP4 scalable streaming are decoded than in H264 scalable streaming at low error rate, but, as error rate increases, the client for streaming service drops more receiving scalable layers following (1). InThe Bourne Ultimatum, H264 scalable streaming is better than MP4 scalable streaming even at some high error rates. At low error rate forThe Bourne Ultimatum, the ratio of scalable layers in Figure 10 is higher than the ratio of multimedia data in Figure 9.The Bourne Ultimatum contains a high ratio of B frames, so the ratio of scalable layers is increased for a small ratio of multimedia data.InFantastic 4,Foreman, andTo the Limit, MP4 scalable streaming outperforms H264 scalable streaming for all error rates. In those streams, one frame is divided into a small number of packets, so the scalable layers themselves are available from (1). Most of discarded scalable layers do not satisfy (3).Our simulation results show that a scalable scheme with low dependence among scalable layers provides good service to users. At low wireless network error rates, the relationship among scalable layers determines the quality of scalable streams; this is especially critical for streams with small sized frames.


## 5. Conclusion

In this paper, we show that ourAdaptiveSTB converts scalable layers with complicated dependency into simple scalable layers, thereby enhancing the scalable streaming service over a wireless network. We found that the main reason for a reduction in quality of scalable streaming over a wireless network had to do with the error rate. When a scalable layer can only be delivered with a high error rate, the dependency among scalable layers exerts little influence on the quality of the scalable streaming service. However, when the error rate of the wireless network is low or the size of scalable layers is small, the quality of the scalable streaming service is determined by the dependency among scalable layers.We perform packet-level analysis for scalable streaming service over a wireless network. Additionally, we suggest formulas for the expected quality of the scalable streaming service and prove the performance of ourAdaptiveSTB through simulations in wireless networks. We compare the performance of scalable streams over wireless networks with various error rates. Future work will address limitation of resources (e.g., memory and computing power) at the set-top box as well as various network environments.



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*Source: 195781-2014-06-12.xml*