SCRAS Server-Based Crosslayer Rate-Adaptive Video Streaming over 4G-LTE for UAV-Based Surveillance Applications

Abstract

This research focuses on intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based, real-time video surveillance to ensure better monitoring and security of remote locations over 4G-LTE cellular networks by maximizing end-user quality of experience (QoE). We propose a novel server-based crosslayer rate-adaptive scheme (SCRAS) for real-time video surveillance over 4G-LTE networks using UAVs. Our key contributions are: (1) In SCRAS, mobile UAVs having preprogrammed flight co-ordinates act as servers, streaming real-time video towards a remote client; (2) server-side video rate adaptation occurs in 4G-LTE based on the physical characteristics of the received signal conditions due to variations in the wireless channel and handovers; (3) SCRAS is fully automated and independent of client assistance for rate adaptation, as it is intended for real-time, mission-critical surveillance applications; (4) SCRAS ensures that during rate adaptation, the current video frame should not be damaged by completing the current group of packet (GoP) before adaptation. Our simulations in NS3 provide credible evidence that SCRAS outperforms recently proposed schemes in providing better QoE for real-time, rate-adaptive, video surveillance over 4G-LTE under varying channel quality and frequent handovers that occur during flight by UAVs.