Adaptive Transmission of Variable-Bit-Rate Video Streams to Mobile Devices

We propose a novel algorithm to efficiently transmit multiple variable-bit-rate (VBR) video streams from a base station to mobile receivers in wide-area wireless networks. The algorithm transmits video streams in bursts to save the energy of mobile devices. A key feature of the new algorithm is that it dynamically controls the buffer levels of mobile devices receiving different video streams according to the bit rate of the video stream being received by each device. Our algorithm is adaptive to the changes in the bit rates of video streams and allows the base station to transmit more video data on time to mobile receivers. We have implemented the proposed algorithm as well as two other recent algorithms in a mobile video streaming testbed. Our extensive analysis and results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms two other algorithms and it results in higher energy saving for mobile devices and fewer dropped video frames.