Abstract: Adaptive content delivery is the state-of-the-art in real-time multimedia streaming. Leading streaming approaches, e.g., MPEG-DASH and Apple HLS, have been developed for classical IP-based networks, providing effective streaming by means of pure client-based control and adaptation. However, the research activities of the Future Internet community adopt a new course that is different from today's host-based communication model. So-called Information-Centric Networks are of considerable interest and are advertised as enablers for intelligent networks, where effective content delivery is to be provided as an inherent network feature. This paper investigates the performance gap between pure client-driven adaptation and the theoretical optimum in the promising Future Internet architecture Named Data Networking (NDN). The theoretical optimum is derived by modeling multimedia streaming in NDN as a fractional Multi-Commodity Flow Problem and by extending it taking caching into account. We investigate the multimedia streaming performance under different forwarding strategies, exposing the interplay of forwarding strategies and adaptation mechanisms. Furthermore, we examine the influence of network inherent caching on the streaming performance by varying the caching polices and the cache sizes.

Abstract: The core problem for any adaptive video streaming solution, particularly over wireless networks, is the detection (or even prediction) of congestion. IEEE 802.11 is especially vulnerable to fast movement and change of antenna orientation. When used in UAV networks (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), the network throughput can vary widely and is almost impossible to predict. this paper evaluates an approach originally developed by Kofler for home networks, in a single-hop UAV wireless network setting: the delay between the sending of an IEEE 802.11 packet and the receipt of its corresponding acknowledgement is used as an early indicator of the link quality and as a trigger to adapt (reduce or increase) the video stream' s bitrate. Our real-world flight-tests indicate, that this avoids congestion and can frequently avoid the complete loss of video pictures which happens without adaptation.

Abstract: In this tutorial we present state of the art and challenges ahead in over-the-top content delivery. It particular, the goal of this tutorial is to provide an overview of adaptive media delivery, specifically in the context of HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) including the recently ratified MPEG-DASH standard. The main focus of the tutorial will be on the common problems in HAS deployments such as client design, QoE optimization, multi-screen and hybrid delivery scenarios, and synchronization issues. For each problem, we will examine proposed solutions along with their pros and cons. In the last part of the tutorial, we will look into the open issues and review the work-in-progress and future research directions.

Abstract: Social networks have become pervasive and have changed the way of social interaction. The traditional TV experience drifts from an event tied to a certain place with the family or friends to a location-independent and distributed social experience. Additionally, more and more video on-demand services adopt a pull-based streaming approach. In order to provide a synchronized and distributed TV experience we introduce a self-organized Inter-Destination Multimedia Synchronization (IDMS) framework for adaptive media streaming. In particular, we extend the principles of IDMS to adaptive media streaming over HTTP (i.e., MPEG-DASH) and enable a synchronized multimedia playback among geographically distributed clients. Therefore, we introduce session management to MPEG-DASH and for negotiating on a reference playback timestamp among the participating peers in an IDMS session we propose a distributed control scheme. We evaluate our proposed scheme with respect to scalability and time required for negotiating on the reference playback timestamp. Furthermore, we investigate how to compensate the identified asynchronism by using adaptive media playout with respect to the Quality of Experience (QoE). Therefore, we define a temporal distortion measure for audio and video which allows us to model the impact of playback rate variations on the QoE. This measure is evaluated by conducting a subjective quality assessment using crowdsourcing.

Abstract: The consumption of audio-visual content is the most dominant traffic source in today's Internet. Novel architectural approaches, such as Information-Centric Networking (ICN), are developed to support efficient multimedia dissemination. As ICN and MPEG-DASH have several concepts in common, recent proposals consider a fusion of both technologies. However, MPEG-DASH relies on pure client-driven adaptation. This often rather selfish adaptation strategy inhibits benefits gained from ICN's inherent caching and multi-path transmission capabilities. In order to overcome this challenge, the contribution of this work is the integration of in-network adaptation (INA) in ICN. We illustrate that INA can be realized despite ICN's content-based security model. Our proposal rests on scalable content, which enables INA without management and transmission overhead.

Abstract: Information-centric Networking (ICN) as a potential Future Internet architecture has to efficiently support the consumption of multimedia content. Recent proposals consider the reuse of MPEG-DASH to provide adaptive streaming in ICN. Due to the fact that MPEG-DASH relies on pure client-driven adaptation, it encounters difficulties dealing with ICN's inherent caching and multi-path transmission. By conducting simulations using the concrete ICN approach Named Data Networking (NDN), we show that pure client-driven adaptation leads to shortcomings. Furthermore, we propose to use in-network adaptation based on scalable content for overcoming these shortcomings in NDN.

Abstract: This paper proposes a framework for on-demand video streaming that enables secure and efficient delivery of data towards the end user. Our proposal requires the combined usage of three different technologies. The first one is a recent proposal by Jacobsen et al. called Content-Centric Networking (also known as Named Data Networking). It is a network architecture that introduces named data as the most valuable element in the network and divides it into so called content chunks, which are self-identifying and self-authenticating data units. The second concept we utilize derives from the approach of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP, which allows clients to dynamically choose the quality of the received video stream according to their available resources. Finally, we adapt the concept of Broadcast Encryption to form a tool to control the access to provided content streams. The combination of these technologies enables us to design a framework that allows streaming providers to transport data to customers as dynamic adaptive encrypted content chunks, which is an efficient, flexible and scalable way of multimedia data transport.

Abstract: Multimedia delivery over the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is currently very popular and with MPEGs' Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) a standard is available to provide interoperability and enable large-scale deployments using existing infrastructures (servers, proxies, caches, etc.). This paper identifies some issue when multiple DASH clients compete for a bandwidth bottleneck when transparent proxy caches are deployed. Therefore, we propose a fair share adaptation scheme to be included within the client which – through experimental results – achieve a more efficient utilization of the bottleneck bandwidth and less quality switches.

Abstract: When an adaptive media streaming system has to switch from one representation of the content to another, the switch causes viewer distraction. We introduce the concept of representation switch smoothing for alleviating the distraction and improving the overall quality of experience. As adaptive HTTP streaming systems typically deploy video buffers on the client side, the adaptation decision is known far enough ahead of playout time to perform a seamless transition between quality representations. We discuss implementation considerations for an adaptive HTTP streaming system with scalable video coding, present a subjective evaluation of the proposed approach, and identify factors that influence how smooth transitions are perceived.

Abstract: Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) is a convenient approach to transfer videos in an adaptive and dynamic way to the user. As a consequence, this system provides high bandwidth flexibility and is especially suitable for mobile use cases where the bandwidth variations are tremendous. In this paper we have integrated the Scalable Video Coding (SVC) extensions of the Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standard into the recently ratified MPEG-DASH standard. Furthermore, we have evaluated our solution under restricted conditions using bandwidth traces from mobile environments and compared it with an improved version of our MPEG-DASH implementation using AVC as well as major industry solutions.

Abstract: MPEGs' Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH) is an emerging standard designed for media delivery over the top of existing infrastructures and able to handle varying bandwidth conditions during a streaming session. This requirement is very important, specifically within mobile environments and, thus, DASH could potentially become a major driver for mobile multimedia streaming. Hence, this paper provides a detailed evaluation of our implementation of MPEG DASH compared to the most popular propriety systems, i.e., Microsoft Smooth Steaming, Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming, and Apple HTTP Live Streaming. In particular, these systems will be evaluated under restricted conditions which are due to vehicular mobility. In anticipation of the results, our prototype implementation of MPEG-DASH can very well compete with state-of-the-art solutions and, thus, can be regarded as a mature standard ready for industry adaption.

Abstract: Adaptive HTTP streaming got lot of attention in recent years and with dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) a standard is available. Many papers cover this topic and present their research results, but unfortunately all of them use their own private dataset which – in most cases – is not publicly available. Hence, it is difficult to compare, e.g., adaptation algorithms in an objective way due to the lack of a common dataset which shall be used as basis for such experiments. In this paper, we present our DASH dataset featuring our DASHEncoder, an open source DASH content generation tool. We also provide basic evaluations of the different segment lengths, the influence of HTTP server settings, and, in this context, we show some of the advantages as well as problems of shorter segment lengths.

Abstract: This paper presents our peer-assisted Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (pDASH) proposal as well as an evaluation based on our DASH simulation environment in comparison to conventional approaches, i.e., non-peer-assisted DASH. Our approach maintains the standard conformance to MPEG-DASH enabling an easy and straightforward way of enhancing a streaming system with peer assistance to reduce the bandwidth and infrastructure requirements of the content/service provider. In anticipation of the results our system achieves a bandwidth reduction of Content Distribution Networks (CDN) and as a consequence the corresponding infrastructure costs of the content/service providers by up to 25% by leveraging the upstream capacity of neighboring peers. Furthermore, the cost savings have been evaluated using a cost model that is based on the current Amazon CloudFront pricing scheme. Furthermore, we have also evaluated the performance impact that various combinations of quality levels of the content could have in a peer-assisted streaming system as well as the client behavior in such an environment.

Abstract: This paper describes the implementation of a VLC media player plugin enabling Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). DASH is an emerging ISO/IEC MPEG and 3GPP standard for HTTP streaming. It aims to standardize formats enabling segmented progressive download by exploiting existing Internet infrastructure as such. Our implementation of these formats as described in this paper is based on the well-known VLC. Hence, it is fully integrated into the VLC structure and has been also submitted to the VLC development team for consideration in future releases of VLC. Therefore, it is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). The plugin provides a very flexible structure that could be easily extended with respect to different adaptation logics or profiles of the DASH standard. As a consequence, the plugin enables the integration of a variety of adaptation logics and comparison thereof, making it attractive for the research community.