Fuzzy joint encoding and statistical multiplexing of multiple video sources with independent quality of services for streaming over DVB-H

A novel fuzzy joint video encoding and statistical multiplexing (StatMux) method for broadcasting over DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting for Handhelds) channels is proposed to decrease end-to-end delay in a broadcast system. DVB-H uses a time-sliced transmission scheme to reduce the power consumption used for radio reception in handheld receivers. Due to the time slicing scheme in DVB-H, channel changing delay, i.e. changing from one audio-visual service to another, and thereafter end-to-end delay becomes significant. The proposed video encoding method decreases the buffering delays that constitute the major parts of the end-to-end delay by implementing statistical multiplexing (StatMux) over video services. Unlike conventional similar methods, in the proposed method the multiplexed services can have independent bit rates and quality of services. Moreover, the computational complexity of the proposed method is much lower than that of conventional methods. Although the proposed method has been designed and tested for DVB-H broadcast system, it can be deployed in other video broadcast systems in which a number of video services are encoded and broadcasted simultaneously. Simulation results show that the proposed method can considerably decrease end-to-end delay without any cost in the overall quality of compressed video. © 2009 ICIC International