Estimation of accurate effective loss rate for FEC video transmission

• We analyze the delay effect caused by the FEC coding and the packet size variation.
• With the analysis, we establish an accurate model to estimate the effective loss rate.
• Using the accurate model, optimal combination of FEC coding parameters is achieved.
• The experimental results show that the proposed model improves the transmitted video quality.

We propose an algorithm for adjusting data transmission parameters, such as the packet size and the code rate of forward error correction (FEC), to obtain maximum video quality under dynamic channel conditions. When determining transmission parameters, it is essential to calculate an accurate effective loss rate that reflects FEC recovery failures and over-deadline packets. To this end, we analyze the delays caused by FEC coding and the potential packet size variations. In our analysis, we consider the effect of delayed transmission of video packets incurred by the parity packets as well as the encoder and decoder buffers. With the analysis reflecting the delay effect, we are able to accurately estimate the delay patterns of all video packets. Based on the analysis results, we establish an accurate model for estimating the effective loss rate. Simulations show that the proposed effective loss rate model accurately estimates the effective loss rate and significantly improves the reconstructed video quality at the receiver.