Scalable Video Multicast over MANETs

Abstract

The paper presents a video multicasting architecture for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). The proposed framework uses the scalable, noncausal predictive codec with vector quantization and conditional replenishment (SNP/VQR) for encoding video into multiple layers of data streams at bit rates between 10 Kbps to 500 Kbps. A rate adaptive multicast (RAM) routing algorithm is proposed, which dynamically adjusts the transmission rate based on the channel quality to obtain the optimum throughput. The scalability of SNP/VQR, coupled with RAM, enables strong resilience against bandwidth fluctuations as well as the capability to support a range of heterogeneous mobile receivers. Experimental results demonstrate that uninterrupted video of reasonable quality is multicasted with the proposed architecture even under heavy traffic conditions