Abstract:

A genetic-optimization framework based on the partial cooperation communication protocol is proposed for scalable video coding (SVC) stream transmission under multi-relay amplify and forward cooperative networks. Unlike traditional cooperative transmission schemes, the transmission mode for each coded unit in this new protocol can be switched flexibly between direct transmission and cooperative transmission. Obviously, under this protocol, the bandwidth efficiency and transmission robustness can be balanced adaptively according to the priority level of coded units and wireless channel fading characteristics. Based on this, a well-known genetic optimization algorithm—differential evolution is exploited here to find the jointly optimal transmission modes, power allocation and unequal error protection (UEP) channel coding strategies to minimize the end to end reconstructed video distortion. Extensive simulation results show that, compared with classical optimal cooperative UEP transmission schemes, the proposed optimized transmission framework based on the partial cooperative protocol can bring significant peak-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) gains for the reconstructed video in a variety of channel bandwidth, power budget and test sequences.