Performance optimization for multimedia transmission in Wireless Home Networks

This paper describes a network adaptive real-time demonstrator for converged applications (audio, video, voice, and data) on an IEEE802.11g Wireless Home Network. Video transmission quality is optimised by dynamically adapting the source video bit-rate to a real-time estimate of the available bandwidth on the wireless network and by introducing data redundancy to recover packet losses (Forward Error Correction). Video adaptation is done by DCT-domain video transcoding algorithms performed in real-time on a digital signal processor. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are offered managing the coexistence of 802.11g terminals and Bluetooth headsets. Audio time-scale modification and adaptive playout algorithms enable robust and high quality interactive voice communications minimizing the effect of packet losses and jitter typical of wireless scenarios. All devices can share and remotely control content via Universal Plug and Play (UPnP).