Performance evaluation: Priority transmission using network coding with multi-generation mixing

In this paper, we evaluate the priority transmission characteristic of network coding (NC) with multi-generation mixing (MGM). MGM supports priority transmission by providing enhanced reliability for delivering different groups of sender packets. MGM is a generalized approach for practical network coding that enhances its performance. With MGM, sender packets are grouped in generations that constitute mixing sets. By employing the novel inter-generation network coding approach, each generation within a mixing set can be considered as a priority layer. This is due to the varying levels of data protection provided to the different generations within a mixing set. Traditionally, priority transmission is done by increasing the level of FEC protection assigned to sender data of higher priority. This incurs transmission overhead that consumes bandwidth. MGM supports priority transmission by network encoding data of higher priority in more sender packets so that more packets support its recovery. At the same time there is no increase in the total number of packets transmitted and hence no additional transmission overhead.