Abstract: Scalable Video Coding (SVC) in media streaming enables dynamic adaptation based on device capabilities and network conditions. In this paper, we investigate deployment options of SVC for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) with a special focus on scalability options, which are relevant for dynamic adaptation, especially in wireless and mobile environments. We evaluate the performance of SVC with respect to spatial and quality scalability options and compare it to non-scalable Advanced Video Coding (AVC). Performance evaluations are performed for various encoder implementations with high-definition (1080p) content. We show that a hybrid approach with multiple independent SVC bitstreams can have advantages in storage requirements at comparable rate-distortion performance.

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: Scalability within media coding allows for content adaptation towards heterogeneous user contexts and enables in-network adaptation. However, there is no straightforward solution how to encode the content in a scalable way while maximizing rate-distortion performance. In this paper we provide encoding guidelines for scalable video coding based on a survey of media streaming industry solutions and a comprehensive performance evaluation using four state of the art scalable video codecs with a focus on high-definition content (1080p).

Abstract: This paper shows how adaptive streaming and on-device caching can be used to provide an always available video service. A DASH client has been extended to deal with periods of zero network connectivity, and seamlessly works in conjunction with CCN to provide local storage that is intelligently updated to provide an improved quality of experience.

Abstract: Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) is referred to as a multimedia streaming standard to deliver high quality multimedia content over the Internet using conventional HTTP Web servers. As a fundamental feature, it enables automatic switching of quality levels according to network conditions, user requirements, and expectations. Currently, the proposed adaptation schemes for HTTP streaming mostly rely on throughput measurements and/or buffer-related metrics, such as buffer exhaustion and levels. In this paper, we propose to enhance the DASH adaptation logic by feeding it with additional information from our evaluation of the users' perception approximating the user- perceived quality of video playback. The proposed model aims at conveniently combining TCP-, buffer-, and media content-related metrics as well as user requirements and expectations to be used as an input for the DASH adaptation logic. Experiments have demonstrated that the chosen model enhances the capability of the adaptation logic to select the optimal video quality level. Finally, we integrated all our findings into a real DASH system with QoE monitoring capabilities.

Abstract: Additional constituents for the representation of multimedia content gained more and more attention. For example, the amount of cinemas equipped with additional devices (e.g., ambient light, vibrating seats, wind generators, water sprayers, heater/coolers) that stimulate senses going beyond audition and vision increases. On the content side the MPEG-V standard specifies – among others – Sensory Effect Metadata (SEM) which provides means to describe sensory effects such as wind, vibration, light, etc. to be attached to audio-visual content and, thus, offering an enhanced and immersive experience for the user. However, there is a lack of a common set of test content allowing for various subjective user studies and verification across different test sites. In this paper we provide our dataset comprising a number of videos from different genres enriched with MPEG-V compliant Sensory Effect Metadata descriptions. Furthermore, we describe possible test setups using off-the-shelf hardware for conducting subjective quality assessments.

Abstract: Multimedia content is increasingly used in every area of our life. Still, each type of content only stimulates the visual and/or the hearing system. Thus, the user experience depends only on those two stimuli. In this paper we introduce a standard which offers the possibility to add additional effects to multimedia content. Furthermore, we present a multimedia player and a Web browser plug-in which uses this standard to stimulate further senses by using additional sensory effects (i.e., wind, vibration, and light) to enhance the user experience resulting in a unique, worthwhile sensory experience.

Abstract: This paper describes a toolset for the authoring, simulating, and rendering of multimedia content annotated with Sensory Effect Metadata (SEM) descriptions as specified in Part 3 of the MPEG V standard. This part of MPEG-V standardizes the description of sensory effects (e.g., light, wind) in order to be rendered on sensory devices (e.g., fans, vibration chairs) aiming at generating a sensory experience stimulating possibly all human senses. Our implementation comprises a toolset to author sensory effects associated with multimedia content and the simulation thereof. Furthermore, it includes a library, a standalone player, and a Web browser plug-in which enables the playback and rendering of sensory effects on off-the-shelf rendering devices and in various contexts. All software modules are available under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v3 and the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) v3 respectively.

Abstract: In this tutorial we present dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP ranging from content creation to consumption. It particular, it provides an overview of the recently ratified MPEG-DASH standard, how to create content to be delivered using DASH, its consumption, and the evaluation thereof with respect to competing industry solutions. The tutorial can be roughly clustered into three parts. In part I we will provide an introduction to DASH, part II covers content creation, delivery, and consumption, and, finally, part III deals with the evaluation of existing (open source) MPEG-DASH implementations compared to state-of-art deployed industry solutions.

Abstract: The design of interactive systems, especially in distributed research projects, is a challenging process in which many concepts are developed with successful outcomes but also with dissatisfying results. In order to structure and relay knowledge about good or bad approaches, design patterns are a well-known instrument in research and development. Due to the condition that a design pattern must be easy to read, different stakeholders in the system engineering and design process are able to understand the described concepts without the need of specific expert knowledge . In distributed projects, application design knowledge may be scattered and documented in different manners. This means, before we can start formulating patterns, we need to discover and gather the available and partially concealed design knowledge. Since these fragments of knowledge may not always be accurately formulated for being used as design patterns, we seek for a collaborative method for collecting and formulating early findings together with established design knowledge. In this paper we present a concept of an evolutionary process for capturing, formulating, refining and validating design patterns. Our approach aims at involving as many stakeholders as possible in order to shape a pattern language over a project’s lifetime in a collaborative process allowing facile participation. We implement our approach in the scope of the EU research project BRIDGE that aims at supporting inter-agency collaboration during emergency response. We close with a discussion of the current state and envisioned next steps in order to foster our considerations.

Abstract: Multimedia is ubiquitously available online with large amounts of video increasingly consumed through Web sites such as YouTube or Google Video. However, online multimedia typically limits users to visual/auditory stimulus, with onscreen visual media accompanied by audio. The recent introduction of MPEG-V proposed multi-sensory user experiences in multimedia environments, such as enriching video content with so-called sensory effects like wind, vibration, light, etc. In MPEG-V, these sensory effects are represented as Sensory Effect Metadata (SEM), which is additionally associated to the multimedia content. This paper presents three user studies that utilize the sensory effects framework of MPEG-V, investigating the emotional response of users and enhancement of Quality of Experience (QoE) of Web video sequences from a range of genres with and without sensory effects. In particular, the user studies were conducted in Austria and Australia to investigate whether geography and cultural differences affect users’ elicited emotional responses and QoE.

Abstract: Nowadays video is an important part of the Web and Web sites like YouTube, Hulu, etc. count millions of users consuming their content every day. However, these Web sites mainly use media players based on proprietary browser plug-ins (i.e., Adobe Flash) and do not leverage adaptive streaming systems. This paper presents a seamless integration of the recent MPEG standard on Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) in the Web using the HTML5 video element. Therefore, we present DASHJS, a JavaScript-based MPEG-DASH client which adopts the Media Source API of Google’s Chrome browser to present a flexible and potentially browser independent DASH client. Furthermore, we present the integration of WebM based media segments in DASH giving a detailed description of the used container format structure and a corresponding Media Presentation Description (MPD). Our preliminary evaluation demonstrates the bandwidth adaption capabilities to show the effectiveness of the system.

Abstract: We evaluate the performance of several routing protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) in an emergency response scenario. The simulated scenario uses a disaster area mobility model and a wireless shadowing model to represent realistic first responder movements in a hybrid indoor/outdoor environment. The resulting scenario imposes some challenges on the MANET routing protocols such as intermittent connectivity and network partitions. The simulation results show that nodes have diverse connectivity characteristics which are challenging for state-of-the-art MANET routing protocols.

Abstract: Social media are becoming an important instrument for supporting crisis management, due to their broad acceptance and the intensive usage of mobile devices for accessing them. Social platforms facilitate collaboration among the public during a crisis and also support after-the-fact analysis. Thus, social media are useful for the processes of understanding, learning, and decision making. In particular, having information from social networks in a suitable, ideally summarized, form can speed up such processes. The present study relies on Flickr and YouTube as social media and aims at automatically identifying individual sub-events within a crisis situation. The study applies a two-phase clustering approach to detect those sub-events. The first phase uses geo-referenced data to locate a sub-event, while the second phase uses the natural language descriptions of pictures and videos to further identify the ”what-about” of those sub-events. The results show high potential of this social media-based clustering approach for detecting crisis-related sub-events.

Abstract: Social networks give the opportunity to gather and share knowledge about a situation of relevance. This so called user-generated content is getting increasingly important during crisis management. It facilitates the collaboration with citizens or parties involved from the very beginning of the crisis. The information captured in form of images, text or videos is a valuable source of identifying sub-events of a crisis. In this study, we use metadata of images and videos collected from Flickr and YouTube to extract sub-events in crisis situations. We investigate the suitability of clustering techniques to detect sub-events. In particular two algorithms are evaluated on several data sets related to crisis situations. The results show the high potential of the approach proposed.

Abstract: Emergency management is about assessing critical situations, followed by decision making as a key step. Clearly, information is crucial in this two-step process. The technology of social (multi)media turns out to be an interesting source for collecting information about an emergency situation. In particular, situational information can be captured in form of pictures, videos, or text messages. The present paper investigates the application of multimedia metadata to identify the set of sub-events related to an emergency situation. The used metadata is compiled from Flickr and YouTube during an emergency situation, where the identification of the events relies on clustering. Initial results presented in this paper show how social media data can be used to detect different sub-events in a critical situation.

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: Multimedia streaming technologies based on the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) are very popular and used by many content providers such as Netflix, Hulu, and Vudu. Recently, ISO/IEC MPEG has ratified Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) which extends the traditional HTTP streaming with an adaptive component addressing the issue of varying bandwidth conditions that users are facing in networks based on the Internet Protocol (IP). Additionally, industry has already deployed several solutions based on such an approach which simplifies large scale deployment because the whole streaming logic is located at the client. However, these features may introduce drawbacks when multiple clients compete for a network bottleneck due to the fact that the clients are not aware of the network infrastructure such as proxies or other clients. This paper identifies these negative effects and the evaluation thereof using MPEG-DASH and Microsoft Smooth Streaming. Furthermore, we propose a novel adaptation algorithm introducing the concept of fairness regarding a cluster of clients. In anticipation of the results we can conclude that we achieve more efficient bottleneck bandwidth utilization and less quality switches.

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: In this paper we demonstrate our MPEG-DASH evaluation suite, which comprises several components on the client side as well as on the server side. The major client components are the VLC DASH plugin, libDASH, and DASH-JS, a JavaScript-based DASH client. These tools enable performance tests on various platforms, e.g., Windows and Linux as well as mobile platforms such as Android. Moreover, due to their flexible structure it is possible to integrate adaptation logics and evaluate them under consistent conditions. On the server side we provide the content generation tool DASHEncoder, our MPEG-DASH datasets well as the MPEG-DASH conformance validator.

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: HTTP streaming has gained significant attraction in the last few years. Currently many commercial as well as standardized streaming systems are already offering adaptive streaming. In most cases, the adaptation is achieved by switching between separately encoded video streams in different qualities. In contrast to that, this paper focuses on the applicability of scalable video coding based on the H.264/SVC standard for adaptive HTTP streaming. Recent work has already highlighted the conceptual advantages like better cache utilization, fine-grained bit rate scalability, and lower storage requirements. This paper discusses the actual realization and design options for implementing priority streaming using the ISO Base Media File Format (BMFF). We propose three different strategies for organizing the scalable video bit stream that consider both the possibilities as well as limitations of the ISO BMFF. The proposed strategies are discussed and evaluated both conceptually and quantitatively. For that purpose, we provide a detailed analysis based on modeling both the overhead of the file format and the HTTP encapsulation. The results for all three priority streaming strategies show that the limitations of the ISO BMFF result in a high relative overhead in the case of low bit rate content. However, when applied to high quality content, priority streaming of H.264/SVC can be implemented at a very low cost. Depending on the number of layers and the offered scalability dimensions, different strategies should be chosen to minimize the overhead. Based on the analytical model and the discussion, this paper provides guidance for selecting the most efficient strategy.

Abstract: Existing and future media ecosystems need to cope with the ever-increasing heterogeneity of networks, devices, and user characteristics collectively referred to as (usage) context. The key to address this problem is media adaptation to various and dynamically changing contexts in order to provide a service quality that is regarded as satisfactory by the end user. The adaptation can be performed in many ways and at different locations, e.g., at the edge and within the network resulting in a substantial number of issues to be integrated within a media ecosystem. This paper describes research challenges, key innovations, target research outcomes, and achievements so far for edge and in-network media adaptation by introducing the concept of Scalable Video Coding (SVC) tunneling.