Perceptual quality assessment of P2P assisted streaming video for chunk-level playback controller design

In this paper, we focus on the perceptual quality assessment of network streamed video via P2P networks. In these systems, the most noticeable impairments are not bit-level distortions, nor packet losses (as they get repaired), but video chunk or frame level delays. A key module in a video player is the video playback controller that decides whether to wait for delayed frames (hence freezing the playback), or try to playback by concealing the missing data. A good design should be based on how users react to different frame delay scenarios and playback decisions. We carefully designed a set of subjective tests to sample user reactions, and discuss how our results can be used in the design of playback controllers.