Cross-layer optimization of video streaming in single-hop wireless networks

Video streaming over wireless networks is getting very popular because of the high bandwidth and the support of quality of service offered by recent wireless standards, such as IEEE 802.1 le. We consider optimizing the quality of video streaming in single-hop wireless networks that are composed of multiple wireless stations. Our optimization problem controls parameters in different layers to optimally allocate the wireless network resources among all stations. We address this problem in two steps. First, we formulate an abstract optimization problem for video streaming in single-hop wireless networks in general. This formulation exposes the important interaction between parameters belonging to different layers in the network stack. Then, we instantiate and solve the general problem for the recent IEEE 802.1 le WLANs, which support prioritized traffic classes. We show how the calculated optimal solutions can efficiently be implemented in the distributed mode of the IEEE 802.1 le standard. We evaluate our proposed solution using extensive simulations in the OPNET simulator, which captures most features of realistic wireless networks. In addition, to show the practicability of our solution, we have implemented it in the driver of an off-the-shelf wireless adapter that complies with the IEEE 802, He standard. Our experimental and simulation results show that significant quality improvement in video streams can be achieved using our solution, without incurring any significant communication or computational overhead.