Delay-based cross-layer QoS scheme for video streaming in wireless ad hoc networks

With correlating with human perception, quality of experience (QoE) is also an important measurement in evaluation of video quality in addition to quality of service (QoS). A cross-layer scheme based on Lyapunov optimization framework for H.264/AVC video streaming over wireless Ad hoc networks is proposed, with increasing both QoE and QoS performances. Different from existing works, this scheme routes and schedules video packets according to the statuses of the frame buffers at the destination nodes to reduce buffer underflows and to increase video play-out continuity. The waiting time of head-of-line packets of data queues are considered in routing and scheduling to reduce the average end-to-end delay of video sessions. Different types of packets are allocated with different priorities according to their generated rates under H.264/AVC. To reduce the computational complexity, a distributed media access control policy and a power control algorithm cooperating with the media access policy are proposed. Simulation results show that, compared with existing schemes, this scheme can improve both the QoS and QoE performances. The average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the received video streams is also increased.