A software only scalable video delivery system for multimedia applications over heterogeneous networks

Precompressed video delivery systems commonly operate at fixed data rates. However, variations in the availability of network bandwidth and processor cycles are common in dynamic general purpose computing environments. Variability arises from the outright lack of resources (e.g. network bandwidth and cpu cycles), contention for available resources due to congestion, or a user's unwillingness to allocate needed resources to the task. Users of a scalable video delivery system have greater flexibility and therefore, the system can more effectively deliver video in the presence of system resource scarcity. This paper describes an end-to-end system combining a scalable video compression algorithm, video delivery software, a software video decoder, and a market-based mechanism for the resolution of conflicts in providing video to the user.