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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc2448.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc2448.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc8f205 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc2448.txt @@ -0,0 +1,395 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group M. Civanlar +Request for Comments: 2448 G. Cash +Category: Informational B. Haskell + AT&T Labs-Research + November 1998 + + + AT&T's Error Resilient Video Transmission Technique + +Status of this Memo + + This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does + not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this + memo is unlimited. + +Copyright Notice + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. + +Abstract + + This document describes a set of techniques for packet loss resilient + transmission of compressed video bitstreams based on reliable + delivery of their vital information-carrying segments. The described + techniques can be used over packet networks without packet + prioritization. These techniques are related to AT&T/Lucent patents + [1, 2]. + +1. Introduction + + It is well known that every bit in a compressed video bitstream is + not equal. Some bits belong to segments defining vital information + such as picture types, quantization values, parameter ranges, average + intensity values for image blocks, etc. When transporting compressed + video bitstreams over packet networks, packet losses from such + segments cause a much longer lasting and severe degradation on the + output of a decoder than that caused by packet losses from other + segments. We will call the vital information-carrying segments "High + Priority (HP)" segments. The rest of the bitstream consists of "Low + Priority (LP)" segments. Clearly, the video outputs resulting from + transport techniques that protect the HP segments against packet + losses are more resilient to packet losses in general. + + Protection of the HP segments can be accomplished in many ways. These + include: + + - redundant transmission of the HP segments as described + in [3] for MPEG RTP payloads + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 1] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + + - using forward error correction (FEC) techniques + - transmitting HP segments over reserved channels or using + differentiated services. + + Both redundant transmission and FEC techniques increase the bandwidth + needed to transmit the compressed video bitstream. FEC techniques + increase the effectiveness of this additional bandwidth for packet + loss protection at the expense of increased processing at the + receiver and the transmitter ends and increased overall delay. Using + channel reservations or differentiated services based approaches may + be the best solutions for protecting the HP segments but, they + require network infrastructure changes. + + This document outlines another set of HP segment protection + techniques based on AT&T/Lucent patents [1, 2] that can be used for + reliable video transmission over packet networks without a built-in + prioritization mechanism. These techniques use reliable transport + protocols and "out-of-band" delivery approaches. In this context, the + term "out-of-band" is used to imply information transmission means + other than those used for transmitting the main video stream. The + details of these techniques are discussed in the following sections. + An implementation of these, as applied to MPEG-2 video transmission + over IP networks, is described in [4]. + + The IESG/IETF take no position regarding the validity or scope of any + intellectual property right or other rights that might be claimed to + pertain to the implementation or use of the technology, or the extent + to which any license under such rights might or might not be + available. See the IETF IPR web page at http://www.ietf.org/ipr.html + for any additional information that has been forwarded to the IETF. + +2. Identification of the HP segments + + The classification of a part of a video bitstream as an HP segment + depends on two factors. The first one is the encoding algorithm used + in compressing the video data. It is impossible to segment a + compressed video bitstream without knowing the syntax and the + semantics of the encoding algorithm. The second factor is the + determination of a compromise between the HP segment size and the + corresponding loss resilience. As the segment size increases, so does + the loss resilience. On the other hand, it may not be feasible to + deliver large HP segments reliably. + + As an example, the "data partitioning" method of the MPEG-2 standard + [5] defines the syntax and semantics for one particular way of + partitioning an MPEG-2 encoded video bitstream into HP and LP + segments. In data partitioning, the smallest useful HP segment can + be selected to contain only the header information, which is usually + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 2] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + + less than two percent of the video data. HP segments defined this way + contain vital information including picture type, quantization + factor, motion vector ranges, etc. without which the rest of the + bitstream is not decodable. As an alternative, the DC coefficients + (the average values) for each picture macroblock may be included in + the HP segment increasing its size to about 40% of the bitstream. + This way HP segments can be made to carry somewhat usable video + information also; however, their reliable transmission may become a + demanding task. + + Since it is not possible to formulate a general technique that can be + used for identifying the HP segments in any encoded video bitstream, + we will assume that such segments are identified some way prior to + the transmission. For example, some encoders can generate HP and LP + segments separately, a stored bitstream can be in the partitioned + format, etc. Also, consistent with most of the popular coding + techniques, we assume that the HP segments (HP1, HP2, ...) are + dispersed on the entire bitstream over time as shown in Fig. 1. + + +---+----------------+---+----------------------+---+----- + |HP1| LP1 |HP2| LP2 |HP3| ... + +---+----------------+---+----------------------+---+----- + Figure 1 + HP segments dispersed on an encoded video bitstream over time + +3. Transmission of HP data using a reliable transport protocol [1] + + In this approach, one or more of the HP segments are transmitted + using a reliable transport protocol prior to starting the + transmission of the LP segments. For point-to-point applications, + TCP, for multipoint applications, an appropriate reliable multicast + protocol [6] may be used for transporting the HP segments. The number + of HP segments to be sent before starting the transmission of the LP + segments depends on the application's tolerance to the start-up + delay. Depending on the HP segment size and the path-MTU [7], one or + more HP segments can be put in each packet carrying the HP data. + + HP segments can be packetized using RTP with the following + definitions for the header fields: + + Payload Type: A distinct payload type number, which may be + dynamic, should be assigned to HP segments of each video payload. + + M Bit: Set for packets containing HP data for key pictures. + + timestamp: Uses the same format as that of the video payload. + Shows the sampling time for the video data following the first HP + segment in the packet. + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 3] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + + The SSRC field may be defined following the rules developed for the + transmission of layered media streams in [8]. That is: + + - A single SSRC space is used for the HP segment packets and the + main video stream. Only the latter is used for SSRC allocation and + conflict resolution. When a source discovers that it has collided, + it transmits an RTCP BYE message on only the main video stream. + + - A participant sends sender identification (SDES) on only the + main video stream. + + Most HP segments are self-identifying and can be packed without any + additional headers. For others, techniques used for packetizing + generic payload types may be used or special payload types may be + defined. + + It is possible to send the HP data along with the LP data (i.e., the + original, unpartitioned bitstream) in addition to sending the HP + segments separately. This way, the separately transmitted HP segments + are needed only when packet losses occur. + +4. Out-of-band transmission of the HP information [2] + + In cases where a certain sequence of HP segments is used periodically + for the entire duration of the video bitstream, this sequence may be + transmitted once before the start of video transmission using a + reliable transport protocol. The receiver can save this information + and use it to recover lost HP segments during the main video + transmission. + + In this approach, the timestamps are not meaningful for the HP data + and they may not be included in the transmitted HP segment sequence. + In most cases, the synchronization between the stored HP segments and + the LP data stream can be accomplished using the key-frames because + the HP data sequence usually cover the video segment between two + key-frames (e.g. a group-of-pictures (GOP) in MPEG). If the sequence + of HP segments covers a video sequence with more than one key-frame, + some indicator, e.g. if available the M-bit may be used to indicate a + packet which carries the beginning of LP data that follows the first + stored HP segment. + +5. Security Considerations + + RTP packets transmitted according to the techniques outlined in this + document are subject to the security considerations discussed in the + RTP specification [9]. This implies that confidentiality of the media + streams is achieved by encryption. Because the data compression used + is applied end-to-end, encryption may be performed after compression + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 4] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + + so there is no conflict between the two operations. For certain + coding techniques and applications, encrypting only the HP segments + may provide sufficent confidentiality. + + The described techniques do not introduce any significant additional + non-uniformity in the receiver side computational complexity for + packet processing to cause a potential denial-of-service threat. + +References + + [1] Glenn L. Cash, Mehmet R. Civanlar, "Method Of And Apparatus For + The Transmission Of High And Low Priority Segments Of A Video + Bitstream Over Packet Networks," United States Patent Number: + 5,481,312, Jan. 2, 1996. + + [2] Glenn L. Cash, Mehmet R. Civanlar, "Video Bitstream Regeneration + Using Previously Agreed To High Priority Segments," United States + Patent Number: 5,510,844, April 23, 1996. + + [3] Hoffman, D., Fernando, G., Goyal, V. and M. Civanlar, "RTP + Payload Format for MPEG1/MPEG2 Video", RFC 2250, April 1997. + + [4] M. R. Civanlar, G. L. Cash, "A practical system for MPEG-2 based + video-on-demand over ATM packet networks and the WWW," Signal + Processing: Image Communication, no. 8, pp. 221-227, Elsevier, + 1996. + + [5] ISO/IEC International Standard 13818; "Generic coding of moving + pictures and associated audio information," November 1994. + + [6] Overview of Reliable Multicast Protocols Web Page, URL + http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/sigcomm_mcast/talk1.html. + + [7] Mogul, J. and S. Deering, "Path MTU Discovery", RFC 1191, + November 1990. + + [8] M. F. Speer, S. McCanne, "RTP Usage with Layered Multimedia + Streams", Work in Progress. + + [9] Schulzrinne, H., Casner, S., Frederick, R. and V. Jacobson, "RTP: + A Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications", RFC 1889, + January 1996. + + + + + + + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 5] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + +Authors' Addresses + + M. Reha Civanlar + AT&T Labs-Research + 100 Schultz Drive + Red Bank, NJ 07701 + USA + + EMail: civanlar@research.att.com + + + Glenn L. Cash + AT&T Labs-Research + 100 Schultz Drive + Red Bank, NJ 07701 + USA + + EMail: glenn@research.att.com + + + Barry G. Haskell + AT&T Labs-Research + 100 Schultz Drive + Red Bank, NJ 07701 + USA + + EMail: bgh@research.att.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 6] + +RFC 2448 AT&T's Error Resilient November 1998 + + +Full Copyright Statement + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. + + This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to + others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it + or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published + and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any + kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are + included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this + document itself may not be modified in any way, such as by removing + the copyright notice or references to the Internet Society or other + Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of + developing Internet standards in which case the procedures for + copyrights defined in the Internet Standards process must be + followed, or as required to translate it into languages other than + English. + + The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be + revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns. + + This document and the information contained herein is provided on an + "AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING + TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING + BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION + HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF + MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Civanlar, et. al. Informational [Page 7] + |