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Using software defined networking to enhance the delivery of video-on-demand

Georgopoulos, Panagiotis; Broadbent, Matthew; Farshad, Arsham; Plattner, Bernhard; Race, Nicholas

Authors

Panagiotis Georgopoulos

Arsham Farshad

Bernhard Plattner

Nicholas Race



Abstract

High quality online video streaming, both live and on-demand, has become an essential part of many consumers’ lives. The popularity of video streaming, however, places a burden on the underlying network infrastructure. This is because it needs to be capable of delivering significant amounts of data in a time-critical manner to users. The Video-on-Demand (VoD) distribution paradigm uses a unicast independent flow for each user request. This results in multiple duplicate flows carrying the same video assets that only serve to exacerbate the burden placed upon the network. In this paper we present OpenCache: a highly configurable, efficient and transparent in-network caching service that aims to improve the VoD distribution efficiency by caching video assets as close to the end-user as possible. OpenCache leverages Software Defined Networking technology to benefit last mile environments by improving network utilisation and increasing the Quality of Experience for the end-user. Our evaluation on a pan-European OpenFlow testbed uses adaptive bitrate video to demonstrate that with the use of OpenCache, streaming applications play back higher quality video and experience increased throughput, higher bitrate, and shorter start up and buffering times.

Citation

Georgopoulos, P., Broadbent, M., Farshad, A., Plattner, B., & Race, N. (2015). Using software defined networking to enhance the delivery of video-on-demand. Computer Communications, 69, 79-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2015.06.015

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 29, 2015
Online Publication Date Jul 4, 2015
Publication Date 2015-09
Deposit Date Mar 8, 2022
Journal Computer Communications
Print ISSN 0140-3664
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 69
Pages 79-87
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2015.06.015
Keywords Video-on-Demand (VoD), Caching, Quality of Experience (QoE), Software Defined Networking (SDN), OpenCache
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2844163