Predictive control for efficient statistical multiplexing of digital video programs

In broadcast and multicast systems, video programs are transmitted over a constant bit rate channel. Apart from bandwidth constraints, the control of each encoder involved in the statistical multiplexing has to satisfy several other constraints: minimum quality, fairness, and smoothness constraints. This paper proposes an improved control scheme for multiplexing H.264/AVC encoded video programs considering all the mentioned constraints. This process is based on grouping pictures of each program into set of pictures (SOP) whose control parameters are determined from parameters of both past and future SOP. This process leads to smoothed multiplexed program and bounded quality differences between programs. Previous results using only past regulation process showed an increase of the multiplexing efficiency compared to the CBR allocation. Using the proposed regulation process, higher multiplexing efficiency is achieved allowing a potential increase of the number of multiplexed programs.