Multicast with Cache (Mcache): An Adaptive Zero-Delay Video-On-Demand S Service
01 January 2001
A closed-loop (demand-driven) approach towards video-on-demand services, called multicast with caching (Mcache) is discussed in this paper. Servers use multicast to reduce their bandwidth usage by allowing multiple requests to be served with a single data stream. However, this requires clients to delay receiving the movie until the multicast starts. Using regional cache servers deployed over many strategic locations, Mcache can remove the initial playout delays of clients in multicast-based video streaming. While requests are batched together for a multicast, clients can receive the prefix of a requested movie clip from caches located in thier own regions. The multicast containign the later portion of the movie can wait until the prefix is played out.