Optimal dissemination of layered videos in P2P-Based IPTV networks

The emerging scalable video coding extension in H.264/AVC standard will enable the deployment of video streaming and distribution applications in heterogeneous environments, with different user bandwidth resources and display capacities. In this paper, we study the problem of how to distribute scalable coded media objects from a media distribution server in peer-to-peer based IPTV applications. All the media layers are divided in segments to be exchanged by peers in every playback interval. We formulate the media distribution scheme as an optimization problem, so that the time for the system to distribute all media layers to its subscribed end users is minimized. We compared the optimal distribution algorithm with an alternative heuristic algorithm through simulations. The experimental results have demonstrated the excellent performance of the proposed optimal distribution algorithm.