Optimizing video quality in dense small-cell wireless networks with packet overhearing

Abstract

The heterogeneous wireless network (HetNet) paradigm is based on the deployment of low power small cell base stations (SCBS) close to the user in parallel with a macrocell BS (MBS) that provides umbrella coverage. However, since these SCBSs are expected to be deployed in significant numbers, their increased density creates new problems but also new optimization opportunities. In this paper we design a video streaming system for HetNet configurations that allow the SCBSs to opportunistically cooperate, while their backhaul link can be either wireless or wired. The first component of our system is an algorithm that is executed at each SCBS and is responsible for opportunistically overhearing packet transmissions from the MBS and other SCBSs and forwarding them to the users. The second component of our system is a rate allocation algorithm that is executed at the video streaming server. Our system offers different performance benefits depending on the HetNet backhaul configuration. Our performance evaluation with high quality 4K videos, indicates that in the wireline backhaul case video streaming experiences lower delay, while in the wireless backhaul case our system improves the capacity that is available for video communication. © 2014 IEEE.