Hybrid Video Transmission Scheme for Minimizing Maximum Waiting Time in Video-on-Demand (VOD) System

In order to enhance the user experience, it is necessary to reduce the waiting time for each video. It is obvious that the waiting time decreases as the number of channels increases when other conditions keep the same. In this paper, an algorithm using binary search and combining broadcasting with unicast is proposed to minimize the maximum waiting time based on this property. Furthermore, a recommendation algorithm is applied in this algorithm which utilizes the cache of user to reduce the waiting time further. Finally, according to the distribution of arrival rates from Youku, we have established a simulation system and used the proposed algorithm on this system. The results show that the waiting time can be reduced obviously.