Dynamic Packet Selection for H.264 Video Streaming over IEEE 802.11e WLANs

Because wireless channel condition is time-varying, the allocated bandwidth is usually not fixed. Therefore, it is a challenge to guarantee QoS, especially for bandwidth- consuming and delay-sensitive multimedia applications. In this paper, we propose a cross-layer mechanism to improve the quality of H.264 video when encountering short-term bandwidth fluctuations over IEEE 802.11e wireless networks. The proposed cross-layer mechanism consists of slice classification at application layer, dynamic packet selective transmission (DPST) at MAC layer, and channel condition prediction at physical layer. Performance of the proposed mechanism is evaluated through extensive simulations. Results show that the proposed cross-layer mechanism provides better video quality and lower packet delay.