On resource allocation strategies in managed peerassisted VOD streaming systems

Strong with large pools of set-top-boxes (STB) already deployed and connected to high-capacity networks, broadband operators sit on a major opportunity to introduce P2P-based VOD streaming architectures that scales up to the demand, reduce the per-service cost, and ultimately position the operators in a more competitive footing in respect to the increasingly successful Internet streaming services Achieving the required cost-efficiency in such services involves many research challenges, chief among which is the resource allocation in terms of assigning contributing STBs to stream a given VOD service. This paper¹ investigates resource allocation issues associated with the operation of P2P-based VOD streaming systems in the context of a broadband operator. First, we introduce basic resource allocation models that use a single-criterion (Available Uplink, Popularity Score, and Critical Score) to select contributing STBs and satisfy an incoming VOD request. We individually evaluate the performance of every single-criterion resource allocation strategy, and highlight its strengths and weaknesses in dealing with different situations.