1775458
Optimal streaming of layered video
This paper presents a model and theory for streaming layered video. We model the bandwidth available to the streaming application as a stochastic process whose statistical characteristics are unknown a priori. The random bandwidth models short-term variations due to congestion control (such as TCP-friendly conformance). We suppose that the video has been encoded into a base and an enhancement layer, and that to decode the enhancement layer the base layer has to be available to the client. We make the natural assumption that the client has abundant local storage and attempts to prefetch as much of the video as possible during playback. At any instant of time, starvation or partial starvation can occur at the client in either of the two layers. During periods of starvation, the client applies video error concealment to hide the loss. We study the dynamic allocation of the available bandwidth to the two layers in order to minimize the impact pact of client starvation. For the case of an infinitely-long video, we find that the optimal policy takes on a surprisingly simple and static form. For finite-length videos, the optimal policy is a simple static policy when the enhancement layer is deemed at least as important as the base layer. When the base layer is more important, we design a threshold policy heuristic which switches between two static policies. We provide numerical results that compare the performance of no-prefetching, static and threshold policies.
31310473
Packet multiplexers with adversarial regulated traffic
We consider a finite-buffer packet multiplexer to which traffic arrives from several independent sources. The traffic from each of the sources is regulated, i.e., the amount of traffic that can enter the multiplexer is constrained by known regulator constraints. The regulator constraints depend on, the source and are more general than those resulting from cascaded leaky buckets. We assume that the traffic is adversarial to the extent permitted by the regulators. For lossless multiplexing, we show that if the original multiplexer is lossless it is possible to allocate bandwidth and buffer to the sources so that the resulting segregated systems are lossless. For lossy multiplexing, we use our results for lossless multiplexing to estimate the loss probability of the multiplexer. Our estimate involves transforming the original system into two independent resource systems, and using adversarial sources for the two independent resources to obtain a bound on the loss probabilities for the transformed system. We show that the adversarial sources are not extremal on-off sources, even when the regulator consists of a peak rate controller in series with a leaky bucket. We explicitly characterize the form of the adversarial source for the transformed problem. We also provide numerical results for the case of the simple regulator.
32291503
On Nonblocking Multirate Interconnection Networks
In a recent paper, Melen and Turner [SIAM J. Comput., 18 (1989), pp. 301–313] determined sufficient conditions for multirate interconnection networks to be strictly nonblocking and rearrangeable. They considered the continuous bandwidth case, which permits the bandwidth of a connection to take an arbitrary value in a given closed interval. In this paper, simple necessary and sufficient conditions for multirate interconnection networks to be strictly nonblocking for both discrete and continuous bandwidth cases are determined. New results for rearrangeable multirate networks with discrete bandwidth requirements are also given.
15937667
A dynamic programming methodology for managing prerecorded VBR sources in packet-switched networks
Broadband networks will increasingly carry prerecorded traffic, such as high-fidelity audio, short multimedia clips, and full-length movies. We study how to manage the transmission and transport of traffic from prerecorded VBR sources so that network resources are efficiently utilized and end users receive satisfactory service. Specifically, we study Piecewise Constant-Rate Transmission and Transport (PCRTT), whereby the server transmits and the network transports each connection's packets at different constant rates over a small number of intervals. We show how Dynamic Programming (DP) can be applied to find optimal PCRTT rates and intervals for a wide variety of optimization criteria, including criteria which explicitly account for delays to user interaction (pause, fast forward, and rewind). We also introduce two admission policies for PCRTT: peak-rate admission and packing admission. For peak-rate admission, for each video the network allocates an end-to-end CBR connection; the rate of the CBR connection is equal to the maximum PCRTT rate. For packing admission, for each video the network reserves a series of CBR connections of different rates over specific time intervals. Using public domain MPEG traces, we present several numerical examples which illustrate the traffic management schemes and the DP methodology.
18166886
On Routing in ATM Networks
Alternative routing of calls has long been acknowledged as a means of increasing call throughput and robustness in the telephone network. Given these performance gains, it is natural to consider dynamic routing of Virtual Circuits (VCs) in Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks. Unlike telephone networks, VCs have heterogeneous bandwidth characteristics and Quality of Service requirements that the routing algorithm must take into account in order to optimize performance. In this paper we attempt to classify ATM networks according to the network characteristics that have the greatest bearing on the performance of dynamic routing algorithms; we also discuss appropriate routing algorithms for diierent classes of ATM network. The classiication is based on the degree of heterogeneity of the sources and the degree of statistical multiplexing.
6975415
Distributing Layered Encoded Video through Caches
The efficient distribution of stored information has become a major concern in the Internet which has increasingly become a vehicle for the transport of stored video. Because of the highly heterogeneous access to the Internet, researchers and engineers have argued for layered encoded video. We investigate delivering layered encoded video using caches. Based on the stochastic knapsack theory, we develop a model for the layered video caching problem. We propose heuristics to determine which videos and which layers in the videos should be cached in order to maximize the revenue from the streaming service. We evaluate the performance of our heuristics through extensive numerical experiments. We find that, for typical scenarios, the revenue increases nearly logarithmically with the cache size and linearly with the link bandwidth that connects the cache to the origin servers. We also consider service models with request queuing and negotiations about the delivered stream quality and find that both extensions provide only small revenue increases.
47573486
Faster Joins, Self-Joins and Multi-Way Joins Using Join Indices
Abstract We propose a new algorithm, called Stripe-join, for performing a join given a join index. Stripe-join is inspired by an algorithm called ‘Jive-join’ developed by Li and Ross. Stripe-join makes a single sequential pass through each input relation, in addition to one pass through the join index and two passes through a set of temporary files that contain tuple identifiers but no input tuples. Stripe-join performs this efficiently even when the input relations are much larger than main memory, as long as the number of blocks in main memory is of the order of the square root of the number of blocks in the participating relations. Stripe-join is particularly efficient for self-joins. To our knowledge, Stripe-join is the first algorithm that, given a join index and a relation significantly larger than main memory, can perform a self-join with just a single pass over the input relation and without storing input tuples in intermediate files. Almost all the I/O is sequential, thus minimizing the impact of seek and rotational latency. The algorithm is resistant to data skew. It can also join multiple relations while still making only a single pass over each input relation. Using a detailed cost model, Stripe-join is analyzed and compared with competing algorithms. For large input relations, Stripe-join performs significantly better than Valduriez's algorithm and hash join algorithms. We demonstrate circumstances under which Stripe-join performs significantly better than Jive-join. Unlike Jive-join, Stripe-join makes no assumptions about the order of the join index.
14305268
Relations with relation names as arguments: algebra and calculus
We consider a version of the relational model in which relation names may appear as arguments of other relations. Allowing relation names as arguments provides enhanced modelling capabilities, allowing some object-oriented features to be expressed within the relational model. We extend relational algebra with operators for accessing relations, and also define a relational calculus based on the logic HiLog. We prove two equivalence results between extensions of relational algebra provide higher expressive power than relational algebra on any given database. Finally, we argue that the extensions proposed here are relatively easy to provide in practice, and should be expressible within modern query languages.
7960269
Fast joins using join indices
Abstract. Two new algorithms, “Jive join” and “Slam join,” are proposed for computing the join of two relations using a join index. The algorithms are duals: Jive join range-partitions input relation tuple ids and then processes each partition, while Slam join forms ordered runs of input relation tuple ids and then merges the results. Both algorithms make a single sequential pass through each input relation, in addition to one pass through the join index and two passes through a temporary file, whose size is half that of the join index. Both algorithms require only that the number of blocks in main memory is of the order of the square root of the number of blocks in the smaller relation. By storing intermediate and final join results in a vertically partitioned fashion, our algorithms need to manipulate less data in memory at a given time than other algorithms. The algorithms are resistant to data skew and adaptive to memory fluctuations. Selection conditions can be incorporated into the algorithms. Using a detailed cost model, the algorithms are analyzed and compared with competing algorithms. For large input relations, our algorithms perform significantly better than Valduriez's algorithm, the TID join algorithm, and hash join algorithms. An experimental study is also conducted to validate the analytical results and to demonstrate the performance characteristics of each algorithm in practice.
7701041
Optimizing selections over datacubes
Datacube queries compute aggregates over database relations at a variety of granularities. Often one wants only datacube output tuples whose aggregate value satisfies a certain condition, such as exceeding a given threshold. We develop algorithms for processing a datacube query using the selection condition internally during the computation. Thus, we can safely prune parts of the computation and end up with a more efficient computation of the answer Our first technique, called "specialization", uses the fact that a tuple in the datacube does not meet the given threshold to infer that all finer level aggregates cannot meet the threshold. Our second technique is called "generalization", and applies in the case where the actual value of the aggregate is not needed in the output, but used just to compare with the threshold. We demonstrate the efficiency of these techniques by implementing them within the sparse datacube algorithm of Ross and Srivastava. We present a performance study using synthetic and real-world data sets. Our results indicate substantial performance improvements for queries with selective conditions.
15557838
Structural totality and constraint stratification
Kenneth A. Ross* Department of Computer Science, Columbia University