Dynamic handoff of multimedia streams

ABSTRACT

Sometimes a client that receives a multimedia stream from a server can change the connection used to transfer the data. There may be multiple paths or multiple servers, but a switch from one connection to another requires a handoff. During such a handoff, the player (of the video and/or audio stream) should be fed with a constant data stream so that they player does not have to stop. Handoffs can be used in addition to adaptive (frame-dropping) filters to improve the quality of multimedia streams as received by the client.This paper investigates the influence of several factors on the quality of the multimedia stream during the handoff: the time needed to establish the connection to the new server, the size and the fill degree of the client buffer, the length of the synchronization phase (where both the old and the new connection are sending) and the most appropriate start packet for the new connection. The evaluation showsm that a handoff can be a viable solution if an appropriate strategy is chosen to phase over from the old connection to the new one.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation