Layered Video Multicast with Retransmission (LVMR)

Abstract

Layered video multicast with retransmission (LVMR) is a system for distributing video in a heterogeneous network, such as, the Internet. LVMR uses layered encoding of video and also uses IP multicast to multicast each layer of video using a different Class-D address. However, LVMR improves the video quality within each layer by using retransmissions from a nearby receiver given an upper bound on the recovery time, and also uses a hierarchical rate control mechanism for making intelligent decisions about who should perform a join experiment and when. Thus the two key contributions of LVMR are:

• 1. improving the quality of reception by intelligent retransmissions and

• 2. adapting to network congestion and heterogeneity using a hierarchical rate control mechanism.