Abstract

Scalable media streaming using overlays is becoming popular, but to support high bit-rate streams and smooth, uninterrupted playback is challenging. The maximum supported stream rate is constrained by the aggregate outbound bandwidth of the overlay; if this bandwidth is less than required then a large number of users can experience poor playback. Managing the overlay bandwidth efficiently is a major challenge especially when a significant number of overlay members are behind asymmetric links. In this talk I will describe GateKeeper, a system that dynamically monitors and profiles the overlay-wide bandwidth and usage. I will demonstrate how this information can be used to allow an overlay to adapt to the available bandwidth – including admission control, dynamic streaming rate scaling and per-node contribution adaption. This is joint work with Frank Uyeda (UCSD), Simon Schubert, Denisa Ghita and Dejan Kostic (EPFL).