Multiple description coding and scalable video coding combined with multiple input multiple output techniques: Two strategies to enhance train to wayside video transmissions in tunnels

Abstract

Video monitoring applications for underground rely on wireless train-to-wayside communication systems which require high data rate as well as high Quality of Service (QoS) level. In order to satisfy both constraints we propose a combined source and channel coding approach in the context of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) video transmission. In the present case, MIMO transmission is based on the PHY layer of IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi standard currently deployed in a railway tunnels. Two different strategies are studied: first, the association between Multiple Description Coding (MDC) and a STBC (Space Time Block Code) MIMO scheme is considered when no channel information is available at transmitter side. In the case when perfect channel information is available at transmitter side (CSIT), a Singular Value Decomposition of the MIMO channel is possible. This transmission scheme is then associated with scalable video coding, which consists here in the separation of the scene into different Regions Of Interest (ROI). The creation of the regions of interest is based on the Flexible Macroblock Ordering (FMO) technique introduced in the new H.264/AVC compression standard. The stream associated to the area with the maximal perceptual relevance is transmitted on the eigen-channel with the higher gain. Consequently, this strategy which provides unequal protection against channel errors, allows guaranteeing better robustness and acceptable reconstructed video quality at the control-centre. The two different strategies of transmission have been evaluated thanks to realistic simulations. Two antenna configurations representative of real cases encountered in railway tunnels are considered. The channel model is generated by using the correlation based Kronecker model obtained by computing the channel matrix with a 3D ray tracing tool. Simulation results show that the two proposed solutions allow enhancing the reconstructed video quality compared to conventional transmission schemes with no increase of the transmitted power and of the number of radio access points along the infrastructure, even in tunnels in presence of spatial correlation. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.