The Challenges of Compressing and Streaming Real Time Video Originating from Mobile Devices

Abstract

In recent years, mobile phones have become the de facto system of communication across the planet. Mobile phones have helped increase economic growth and critical response in many parts of the world. Mobile phones are even being used for data transmission. However, little academic research has been done on the specific problem of streaming real time video originating from the cameras of mobile devices over cell phone networks. There are many factors that complicate this problem including the limited computational resources of mobile phones, the low and variable bandwidth of cell phone networks, and the need for video compression and streaming algorithms that can be supported by both the mobile phones and cell phone networks. This chapter examines the problems involved and discusses on-going research on the topic. The main goal of this chapter is to identify the real time constraints and challenges of compressing and streaming video from mobile devices for the purpose of designing efficient video compression and streaming techniques that are able to work within the constraints of the limited computational resources and bandwidth available to mobile devices.