Prioritized optimal server side bandwidth allocation in a multimedia session with push and pull sources

Abstract

A multimedia presentation consists of a set of media with different characteristics (push/ pull nature), different delivery mechanisms, and different priority or importance for the overall effect of the presentation. We propose a scheme where the server can dynamically allocate bandwidth to various media data, so that the overall bandwidth for the presentation will be constant equal to the client bandwidth. Such a real-time bandwidth allocation will improve the user perceived quality of service. Apart from our innovative concept of reallocation of bandwidth between push and pull media based on their discrete or continuous nature, we present a mathematical formulation, which allows the bandwidth allocation considering the distortion and the delay.