ThinStreams: an architecture for multicasting layered video

Multicast is a common method for distributing audio and video over the Internet. Since receivers are heterogeneous in processing capability, network bandwidth, and requirements for video quality, a single multicast stream is usually insufficient. A common strategy is to use layered video coding with multiple multicast groups. In this scheme, a receiver adjusts its video quality by selecting the number of multicast groups, and thereby video layers, it receives. Implementing this scheme requires the receivers to decide when to join a new group or leave a subscribed group. This paper presents a new solution to the join/leave problem using ThinStreams. In ThinStreams, a single video layer is multicast over several multicast groups, each with identical bandwidth. ThinStreams separates the coding scheme (i.e., the video layers) from control (i.e., the multicast groups), helping to bound network oscillations caused by receivers joining and leaving high bandwidth multicast groups. This work evaluates the join/leave algorithms used in ThinStreams using simulations and preliminary experiments on the MBONE. It also addresses fairness among independent video broadcasts and shows how to prevent interference between them.