Trade-off optimization for scalable video coding streaming in relay-based OFDMA networks

To achieve an optimal trade-off between video quality and energy efficiency in the uplink streaming of multi-user Scalable Video Coding (SVC) videos in relay-based Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) cellular networks, a cross-layer design framework that jointly selects the Transmission Policy (TP) for SVC video frames, assigns OFDMA subcarriers, and allocates power for each subcarrier is proposed. We apply the dual decomposition method to the problem, and obtain a TP selection subproblem for each SVC video adaptation and a resource allocation subproblem of Joint Subcarrier, Relay and Power Allocation (JSRPA). A second level of dual decomposition is used to divide the JSRPA problem into independent subcarrier subproblems. The proposed Cross-layer Trade-off Optimization (CTO) algorithm is sub-distributed with significantly low complexity. A performance evaluation with typical SVC video traces demonstrates that the proposed algorithm is able to converge and efficiently achieve the optimal trade-off between the video quality and energy consumption at the MSs for uplink SVC streaming.