Network and Content-Dependent Bitrate Ladder Estimation for Adaptive Bitrate Video Streaming

In this paper, a method is presented to estimate bitrate ladders on the basis of both content complexity and network traces. Unlike previous methods, the proposed algorithm is independent of the adaptive bitrate (ABR) control scheme used by the client. The proposed approach was evaluated in a simulation on the basis of real-life throughput measurements over a large period of time and across multiple ABR control schemes. Unlike in previous studies, perceptual quality metrics that account for the effect of both coding and stalling on video quality are used in the evaluations. Results show that the proposed method performs consistently over time and across ABR control schemes. Thus, this method will enable video streaming service providers to encode videos by using their knowledge of the network performance. This will ultimately enable network usage to be optimized and the quality of experience to be improved.