VIDEO MULTICAST, SUCH AS LAYERED VIDEO MULTICAST FOR EXAMPLE, USING RELAY DEVICES DEFINED BY A CHANNEL QUALITY PARAMETER HIERARCHY

摘要

Improved distribution of video information in an infrastructure-based wireless network is provided. A wireless channel condition between the video server node and each of the plurality of receiver nodes is measured (or accepted, or otherwise determined). Each of the plurality of receiver nodes are assigned into one of a first group and a second group using the measured wireless channel conditions, wherein receiver nodes assigned to the first group have, on average (e.g., on average over time), a better measured wireless channel condition than that of receiver nodes assigned to the second group. At least some (e.g., one or more) of the receiver nodes of the first group of nodes are selected to serve as relay nodes. Video information (e.g., N layers) is then transmitted wirelessly from the video server node for reception by each of the receiver nodes assigned to the first group. Each of the selected relay nodes then transmit at least a part (e.g., M≦N layers) of the video information for reception by at least some of the receiver nodes of the second group such that the relay nodes collectively transmit the at least a part of the video information to all of the receiver nodes of the second group. Receiver nodes assigned to the first group receive, decode and render the received video information. Similarly, receiver nodes assigned to the second group, receive, decode and render the received at least a part of the video information. The receiver nodes assigned to the second group may also use the (1) video information transmitted wirelessly by the source node and/or (2) copies of the at least a part of the video information transmitted by other relay nodes (that is, relay nodes not assigned to it), to the extent such information is received.