Date: March 19, 2000
Author: Ronald Wolak

Subject: DISS 780 Multimedia Discussion Topic 2 - Article Summary

DISS 780 Discussion Topic 2 - Article Summary:
Multimedia Streams and Quality of Service in the Next

Generation Wireless Home Networks

This journal article discussed the infrastructure provided by the Whitecap LAN protocol. The Whitecap network protocol is specific to high-performance, multimedia broadband home networks (Gubbi, 1999). Key features include quality of service (QoS), dynamic TDMA, and selectable error correction (FEC). In addition, Whitecap supports asynchronous and isochronous streams, multiple stream priorities, stream synchronization at the receiver, and dynamic connection and disconnection of streams.

Existing wireless industry standards are unable to handle the distribution of multimedia content throughout the home. However, Whitecap is designed to efficiently manage a home network of multimedia devices and digital content. The supported device types consist of very thin, thin, and fat clients. These include xDSL and cable modems, PCs, residential gateways, TVs, set-top boxes, audio and video jukeboxes, and information appliances. In addition, the Whitecap protocol is compatible and interoperable with IEEE 802.11a and b wireless industry standards.

A QoS layer in Whitecap allows the efficient utilization of bandwidth and reliable data delivery under a variety of conditions. Under the protocol, bandwidth allocation is dynamic and based upon priority. In addition, error control coding and cyclic redundancy checks are provided to ensure reliable data delivery. These are complemented by dynamic rate control, which gracefully degrades data quality as channel losses increase. Finally, if multiple channels exist, the protocol is able to dynamically change to a better channel.

Reference

Gubbi, R. (1999). Multimedia streams and quality of service in next generation wireless home networks. IEEE International Workshop on Mobile Multimedia Communications, IEEE, pp. 232-235.