P2P streaming using multiple description coded video

Today´s peer-to-peer applications benefit from the fact that many users offer their resources (mostly inform of files). Those resources are mainly connected via relatively low-bandwidth, asymmetric access networks (such as ADSL or cable modems), which make it hard to realize the streaming of video data. Thus, audio visual content is usually downloaded and not streamed in today´s peer-to-peer (P2P) systems. In order to provide streaming support it is necessary to take into account the asymmetric character of the up-load and download links. We show that by making use of multiple description coded (MDC) video and the fact that single descriptions can be sent from different peers, streaming in peer-to-peer applications is feasible. The paper discusses the different issues related to this topic. It explains MDC and compares it to hierarchically layered encoded video (HLEV). Further, the conditions under which MDC can be used for P2P streaming are discussed and it is shown how it can be deployed in a P2P environment.