Multipath Video Streaming Based on Hierarchical Routing Management

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new approach to enhance today's hop-by-hop routing. The main goal of our work is to improve the efficiency of network usage and to support transmission requirements (TR) provided by applications. In the paper, we focus on non-functional requirements such as a desired upper bound for the end-to-end delay and a required data rate. Both are encoded as meta data in each data packet. Furthermore, we describe how these embedded (in-band) TRs can be used for QoS-oriented routing, implemented on each intermediate router. This directs packets along routes, providing only the network resources actually needed. In order to support these routing decisions based on TRs, we utilize data from an additional control plane, which provides QoS-related topology data from the network. For this purpose, we apply our idea of "Hierarchical Routing Management" (HRM). It implements a signaling of QoS-related route capabilities. In order to provide a scalable system, we apply hierarchical addressing and topology aggregation, resulting in fewer details in higher hierarchy levels. In detail, we describe how SCTP can be used to encode and transport the TRs for a multipath video-streaming scenario. Moreover, we explain the HRM internal signaling processes, which are required to create and use the HRM system. Compared to current IP routing, this allows for a better network efficiency and QoE at receiver side. Nevertheless, the HRM approach remains backward compatible to current application and router implementations. The paper shows that these benefits can be achieved at an acceptable overhead for packet processing.