Network embedded FEC (NEF) for video multicast in presence of packet loss correlation

Network embedded forward error correction (NEF) framework is a paradigm shift from a conventional approach of providing forward error correction (FEC) only on an end-to-end basis. Previous work on NEF has shown promise in greatly improving the decodable probability, message throughput and video quality available to the end receiver. However the utility of NEF for video applications in presence of packet loss correlation has not been evaluated as yet. In practice, packet losses are often correlated and occur in bursts. The distortion in video can be sensitive to the bursty nature of the losses. Thus in this paper we analyze the performance of NEF within random multicast distribution trees that exhibit losses-with-memory over their branches. We utilized the Gilbert model for packet losses over each link. We quantify the performance improvement of NEF over conventional end-to-end FEC in terms of improvement in video quality in presence of packet loss correlation. Embedding NEF codecs can impact the sensitivity of video quality to packet loss correlation. We explicitly evaluate as to how NEF can alter the dependence of video quality on packet loss burstiness. Finally we show that in addition to an average improvement in video quality, NEF can improve the performance in terms of quality guarantees also.