Error-resilient video streaming over wireless networks using combined scalable coding and multiple-description coding

In this paper, we propose a novel error-resilient coding technique, namely, multiple-description fine granularity scalability (MD–FGS) coding, to enhance error resiliency while retaining good temporal prediction efficiency for video transport over error-prone networks, especially for wireless channels. The proposed MD–FGS coding scheme is based on a combination of FGS and modified MD scalar quantization (MDSQ), named Base-MDSQ, in which partial prediction is utilized to control drifting error. We also propose an adaptive soft handoff algorithm to effectively mitigate video quality degradation caused by transient channel switching when a mobile client roams in wireless local area networks (WLANs). The handoff algorithm utilizes a channel estimator to decide which channels should be used for delivering video. Experimental results show that the proposed method effectively mitigates error propagation due to packet loss while maintaining good coding efficiency.