Stream Switching for 3GPP PSS Adaptive Wireless Video Streaming

Abstract:
A stream switching solution for wireless video streaming is presented that is fully compliant with the 3GPP PSS packet-switched streaming service standard. Client buffer feedback as standardized in PSS is used for calculation of the client buffer playout time at the server. Stream switching is carried out based on thresholds of the client buffer playout time. In order to avoid immediate multiple switches the dynamic change of the client buffer playout time is taken into account. Furthermore, the variable rate of the encoded video is used for a further refinement of the stream switching decisions. Experimental results with a typical wireless scenario show that unnecessary switches are avoided and a continuous playout of the video stream is ensured.