Optimized cross-layer transmission for scalable video over DVB-H networks

Abstract We investigate five efficient combinations of expanding window fountain (EWF) coding and hierarchical QPSK (H-QPSK) modulation in a cross-layer fashion, i.e., EWF coding at the application layer and H-QPSK modulation at the physical layer. We evaluate the performance of five cross-layer transmission schemes for scalable video over Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) networks by performing cross-layer optimization based on a genetic algorithm to find the optimal parameters and the optimization results are provided. Based on the cross-layer optimization results, we propose an adaptive transmission scheme for scalable video by using optimal combinations of these schemes over DVB-H networks, i.e., we adaptively exploit these five cross-layer transmission schemes in specific SNR regions to accommodate varying DVB-H channel conditions and achieve the best overall transmission performance. The results show that the proposed adaptive transmission scheme provides much better overall performance over DVB-H networks, especially in low SNR regions, than any single scheme used by itself.