Dynamic bandwidth allocation with playback buffer stabilization for QoE-aware adaptive video streaming

Abstract

The quality of experience (QoE) is an index that evaluates the application-level quality of network services. In adaptive video streaming, stabilization of playback buffer level improves the QoE by avoiding video freezing. Although control-theoretic approaches for stabilizing the buffer level are effective to improve the QoE for a single user, they have not considered user preferences of the QoE or bandwidth allocation for multiple users. This study proposes a dynamic bandwidth allocation method that satisfies the QoE requirements of multiple users with different preferences. Simulation results show that the proposed method increases the number of satisfied users and QoE fairness for prioritized users at the expense of the average QoE for all users.