Efficient Video Streaming through Seamless Transitions Between Unicast and Broadcast

This work describes the prototype of the DFG Collaborative Research Center 1053 on ’Multi Mechanism Adaptation for the Future Internet’ (MAKI) on switching between network mechanisms during runtime. The replacement of whole network mechanisms of a system is called a transition. Transitions are necessary when environmental conditions change significantly. In this demonstration we show the advantages of transitions for a live video streaming. Starting from a client/server based delivery the live video streaming system is proposed which seamlessly adapts to a P2P-based delivery, when the number of concurrent clients significantly increases. As P2P-based unicastbased delivery is inefficient when concurrent accesses come from the same geographic spot, the transition to local dissemination of the live video is investigated. The system identifies a local client which relays the live stream via broadcast to interested local clients. Both the transition from client/server to P2P as well as the replacement of IP Unicast with Broadcast is executed seamlessly for the video player.