An optimized Multiple Description video codec for lossy packet networks

Abstract

The problem of resilient video transmission over lossy packet networks is addressed in this paper. We propose a rate-distortion optimized multiple description (MD) codec. Two different optimization controls of the codec are described that are suited to rates of packet loss, including the case where packets can travel over multiple paths through the network, with each path-dependent packet-loss probabilities. A packetization method optimized to work seamlessly with the proposed MD codec is also proposed. Simulations performed under various packet loss scenarios show the importance of the two optimizations and also that the proposed framework achieves significantly improved video quality when compared with similar techniques.