Performance evaluation of live video streaming service in 802.11b WLAN environment under different load conditions

Abstract

Live video streaming service, which is common nowadays in the Internet, is supposed to be very challenging and demanding service in next-generation wireless networks. However, both limited quality of service (QoS) support and unstable quality of the air interface can restrain its wide deployment. In this paper we consider live video streaming over IEEE 802.11b wireless local area network (WLAN), which is claimed to be used as a part of layered infrastructure of next-generation mobile systems to provide coverage in highly populated areas. We performed our experiments under different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and different competing TCP and UDP traffic volumes. The main conclusion of our study is that despite a common belief live streaming multimedia services are not ready for wide implementation in hot-spot areas where both high traffic volume and relatively weak signal strength (less than 30 dB) may deny the service easily. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.