Loss-resilient layered multicast using forward error correction

Rate control for multicasting is required for multipoint distribution of video over the Internet. In this paper, we focus on the video image quality during playback and propose layered multicast rate control using error correcting codes. First, we identify the severe degradation problem in the playback quality of the transmitted video due to packet losses resulting from congestion when transmitting high-quality video using conventional techniques. To address this problem, we propose a method adopting the parity generated by the error correcting code in addition to the rate control in order to maintain the video image quality. We perform a simulation to show that the proposed method enables rate control that prevents the degradation in quality caused by congestion. Furthermore, we find the optimum block size of the error correcting code with respect to the control latency, and quantitatively evaluate the packet loss ratio and transmission efficiency with respect to the system scale and the transmission efficiency with respect to the layer increment ratio. We also develop a layer coding technique and study the optimum error correcting code in real-time processing by the software and its implementability. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 87(5): 29-41, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ ecja.10156.