Variance-Aware Adaptive Modulation for OFDM-Based Multiple Description Progressive Image Transmission

Average throughput maximization has commonly been used as an alternative to image or video average distortion minimization. However, as the throughput-distortion curve is non-linear, throughput maximization can be very different from distortion minimization if the variance of the throughput is large. Under high channel quality variability, the variance of the throughput will be high. Multiple description coding with unequal error protection is a promising technique for the transmission of progressive images when there exists a high variability of the channel conditions. In this paper, we consider both the variance and the average of the throughput when deciding the constellation size for adaptive modulation in an OFDM system used for transmitting progressively-coded images with multiple description coding. Simulation results show that in an adaptive modulated image transmission system, taking into account both moments of the throughput achieves better performance than a system considering average throughput alone.