Priority-aware transfer of SVC encoded video over MIMO communications system

A cross-layer method is proposed for optimizing, controlling and improving the quality of video transmission over wireless networks using scalable video coding (SVC) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission with channel state feedback (CSI). Multiple video sub-streams are created by a content-based partitioning and sorting of the enhancement layers produced with the SVC extension of H.264/AVC. Unlike in existing methods, the prioritized bit-streams are transmitted by actively performing power adjustment and antenna selection using a bit-stream prioritization matrix to modify the power allocation procedure of a recently proposed MIMO scheme. The power allocation strategy results in different bit error rate (BER) experienced by the bit-streams. Simulation results show an improved performance compared with power allocation that equalizes BER over the different channels.