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On the performance of scalable video coding for VBR TV channels transport in multiple resolutions and qualities

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Abstract

Video broadcast operators target a variety of receiving devices of different resolutions and processing capabilities. In such a heterogeneous TV network, the transport resource consumption is likely to increase. In this paper we estimate the required transport capacity for a broadcast TV network taking into account parameters as currently proposed in standardization bodies. We target constant video quality, hence the TV channel has variable bit rate (VBR). We consider a multicast-based transport system where only the required versions of a TV channel are transported; this leads to fluctuation of the consumed transport capacity over time. The main focus in this paper is on the comparison of a simulcast and a scalable video coding (SVC) transport scheme in several realistic examples with different encoding modes, including spatial and/or quality scalability. To estimate the required transport capacity for simulcast and SVC, we use a comprehensive toolkit based on a Gaussian approximation of the capacity demand. In order to obtain realistic input values for our calculation tools, we characterize the fluctuations of the bit rate associated with a TV channel by encoding a representative set of video clips. Based on the considered realistic examples, we explore under what conditions either the simulcast or the SVC transport scheme is more efficient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SMACS Research Group, TELIN, Faculty of Engineering, Ghent University, St. Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Zlatka K. Avramova, Sabine Wittevrongel & Herwig Bruneel

  2. Alcatel-Lucent Bell, Bell Labs, Copernicuslaan 50, 2018, Antwerp, Belgium

    Danny De Vleeschauwer

  3. Multimedia Lab Research Group, IBBT, Ghent University, Gaston Crommenlaan 8, p.box 201, 9050, Ghent, Belgium

    Pedro Debevere, Peter Lambert & Rik Van de Walle

Authors
  1. Zlatka K. Avramova
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  2. Danny De Vleeschauwer
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  3. Pedro Debevere
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  4. Sabine Wittevrongel
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  5. Peter Lambert
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  6. Rik Van de Walle
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  7. Herwig Bruneel
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Correspondence to Zlatka K. Avramova.

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Avramova, Z.K., De Vleeschauwer, D., Debevere, P. et al. On the performance of scalable video coding for VBR TV channels transport in multiple resolutions and qualities. Multimed Tools Appl 57, 605–631 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-010-0661-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-010-0661-5

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