Author
Luca De Cicco
Other affiliations: Telecom SudParis
Bio: Luca De Cicco is an academic researcher from Instituto Politécnico Nacional. The author has contributed to research in topics: Network congestion & The Internet. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 61 publications receiving 1713 citations. Previous affiliations of Luca De Cicco include Telecom SudParis.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
••
23 Feb 2011TL;DR: A Quality Adaptation Controller for live adaptive video streaming designed by employing feedback control theory and found to be able to throttle the video quality to match the available bandwidth with a transient of less than 30s while ensuring a continuous video reproduction.
Abstract: Multimedia content feeds an ever increasing fraction of the Internet traffic. Video streaming is one of the most important applications driving this trend. Adaptive video streaming is a relevant advancement with respect to classic progressive download streaming such as the one employed by YouTube. It consists in dynamically adapting the content bitrate in order to provide the maximum Quality of Experience, given the current available bandwidth, while ensuring a continuous reproduction. In this paper we propose a Quality Adaptation Controller (QAC) for live adaptive video streaming designed by employing feedback control theory. An experimental comparison with Akamai adaptive video streaming has been carried out. We have found the following main results: 1) QAC is able to throttle the video quality to match the available bandwidth with a transient of less than 30s while ensuring a continuous video reproduction; 2) QAC fairly shares the available bandwidth both in the cases of a concurrent TCP greedy connection or a concurrent video streaming flow; 3) Akamai underutilizes the available bandwidth due to the conservativeness of its heuristic algorithm; moreover, when abrupt available bandwidth reductions occur, the video reproduction is affected by interruptions.
236 citations
••
23 Dec 2013
TL;DR: This paper proposes ELASTIC (fEedback Linearization Adaptive STreamIng Controller), a client-side controller designed using feedback control theory that does not generate an on-off traffic pattern and is able to get the fair share when coexisting with TCP greedy flows.
Abstract: Today, video distribution platforms use adaptive video streaming to deliver the maximum Quality of Experience to a wide range of devices connected to the Internet through different access networks. Among the techniques employed to implement video adaptivity, the stream-switching over HTTP is getting a wide acceptance due to its deployment and implementation simplicity. Recently it has been shown that the client-side algorithms proposed so far generate an on-off traffic pattern that may lead to unfairness and underutilization when many video flows share a bottleneck. In this paper we propose ELASTIC (fEedback Linearization Adaptive STreamIng Controller), a client-side controller designed using feedback control theory that does not generate an on-off traffic pattern. By employing a controlled testbed, allowing bandwidth capacity and delays to be set, we compare ELASTIC with other client-side controllers proposed in the literature. In particular, we have checked to what extent the considered algorithms are able to: 1) fully utilize the bottleneck, 2) fairly share the bottleneck, 3) obtain a fair share when TCP greedy flows share the bottleneck with video flows. The obtained results show that ELASTIC achieves a very high fairness and is able to get the fair share when coexisting with TCP greedy flows.
194 citations
••
13 Apr 2015TL;DR: This paper investigates "Quick UDP Internet Connections" (QUIC), which was proposed by Google in 2012 as a reliable protocol on top of UDP in order to reduce Web Page retrieval time and finds that QUIC reduces the overall page retrieval time with respect to HTTP.
Abstract: This paper investigates "Quick UDP Internet Connections" (QUIC), which was proposed by Google in 2012 as a reliable protocol on top of UDP in order to reduce Web Page retrieval time We first check, through experiments, if QUIC can be safely deployed in the Internet and then we evaluate the Web page load time in comparison with SPDY and HTTP We have found that QUIC reduces the overall page retrieval time with respect to HTTP in case of a channel without induced random losses and outperforms SPDY in the case of a lossy channel The FEC module, when enabled, worsens the performance of QUIC
160 citations
••
10 May 2016TL;DR: This paper presents an algorithm that is based on estimating through a Kalman filter the end-to-end one way delay variation which is experienced by packets traveling from a sender to a destination and is compared to an adaptive threshold to dynamically throttle the sending rate.
Abstract: Video conferencing applications require low latency and high bandwidth. Standard TCP is not suitable for video conferencing since its reliability and in order delivery mechanisms induce large latency. Recently the idea of using the delay gradient to infer congestion is appearing again and is gaining momentum. In this paper we present an algorithm that is based on estimating through a Kalman filter the end-to-end one way delay variation which is experienced by packets traveling from a sender to a destination. This estimate is compared to an adaptive threshold to dynamically throttle the sending rate. The control algorithm has been implemented over the RTP/RTCP protocol and is currently used in Google Hangouts and in the Chrome WebRTC stack. Experiments have been carried out to evaluate the algorithm performance in the case of variable link capacity, presence of heterogeneous or homogeneous concurrent traffic, and backward path traffic.
140 citations
••
04 Nov 2010TL;DR: This paper experimentally investigates the performance of this new Akamai service aiming at measuring how fast the video quality tracks the Internet available bandwidth and to what extent the service is able to ensure continuous video distribution in the presence of abrupt changes of available bandwidth.
Abstract: Akamai offers the largest Content Delivery Network (CDN) service in the world. Building upon its CDN, it recently started to offer High Definition (HD) video distribution using HTTP-based adaptive video streaming. In this paper we experimentally investigate the performance of this new Akamai service aiming at measuring how fast the video quality tracks the Internet available bandwidth and to what extent the service is able to ensure continuous video distribution in the presence of abrupt changes of available bandwidth. Moreover, we provide details on the client-server protocol employed by Akamai to implement the quality adaptation algorithm. Main results are: 1) any video is encoded at five different bit rates and each level is stored at the server; 2) the video client computes the available bandwidth and sends a feedback signal to the server that selects the video at the bitrate that matches the available bandwidth; 3) the video bitrate matches the available bandwidth in roughly 150 seconds; 4) a feedback control law is employed to ensure that the player buffer length tracks a desired buffer length; 5) when an abrupt variation of the available bandwidth occurs, the suitable video level is selected after roughly 14 seconds and the video reproduction is affected by short interruptions.
95 citations
Cited by
More filters
••
17 Aug 2014TL;DR: This work suggests an alternative approach: rather than presuming that capacity estimation is required, it is perhaps better to begin by using only the buffer, and then ask whencapacity estimation is needed, which allows us to reduce the rebuffer rate by 10-20% compared to Netflix's then-default ABR algorithm, while delivering a similar average video rate.
Abstract: Existing ABR algorithms face a significant challenge in estimating future capacity: capacity can vary widely over time, a phenomenon commonly observed in commercial services. In this work, we suggest an alternative approach: rather than presuming that capacity estimation is required, it is perhaps better to begin by using only the buffer, and then ask when capacity estimation is needed. We test the viability of this approach through a series of experiments spanning millions of real users in a commercial service. We start with a simple design which directly chooses the video rate based on the current buffer occupancy. Our own investigation reveals that capacity estimation is unnecessary in steady state; however using simple capacity estimation (based on immediate past throughput) is important during the startup phase, when the buffer itself is growing from empty. This approach allows us to reduce the rebuffer rate by 10-20% compared to Netflix's then-default ABR algorithm, while delivering a similar average video rate, and a higher video rate in steady state.
931 citations
••
TL;DR: Digital Control Of Dynamic Systems This well-respected, market-leading text discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems with an emphasis on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic response and small errors while using signals that are sampled in time and quantized in amplitude.
Abstract: Digital Control Of Dynamic Systems This well-respected, market-leading text discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems. The emphasis is on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic response and small errors while using signals that are sampled in time and quantized in amplitude. Digital Control of Dynamic Systems (3rd Edition): Franklin ... This well-respected, market-leading text discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems. The emphasis is on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic response and small errors while using signals that are sampled in time and quantized in amplitude. Digital Control of Dynamic Systems: Gene F. Franklin ... Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, 2nd Edition. Gene F. Franklin, Stanford University. J. David Powell, Stanford University Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, 2nd Edition Pearson This well-respected work discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems. The emphasis is on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic response and small errors while using signals that are sampled in time and quantized in amplitude. MATLAB statements and problems are thoroughly and carefully integrated throughout the book to offer readers a complete design picture. Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, 3rd Edition ... Digital control of dynamic systems | Gene F. Franklin, J. David Powell, Michael L. Workman | download | B–OK. Download books for free. Find books Digital control of dynamic systems | Gene F. Franklin, J ... Abstract This well-respected work discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems. The emphasis is on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic... (PDF) Digital Control of Dynamic Systems Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, Addison.pdf There is document Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, Addison.pdfavailable here for reading and downloading. Use the download button below or simple online reader. The file extension PDFand ranks to the Documentscategory. Digital Control of Dynamic Systems, Addison.pdf Download ... Automatic control is the science that develops techniques to steer, guide, control dynamic systems. These systems are built by humans and must perform a specific task. Examples of such dynamic systems are found in biology, physics, robotics, finance, etc. Digital Control means that the control laws are implemented in a digital device, such as a microcontroller or a microprocessor. Introduction to Digital Control of Dynamic Systems And ... The discussions are clear, nomenclature is not hard to follow and there are plenty of worked examples. The book covers discretization effects and design by emulation (i.e. design of continuous-time control system followed by discretization before implementation) which are not to be found on every book on digital control. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Digital Control of Dynamic ... Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Digital Control of Dynamic Systems (3rd Edition) at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Digital Control of Dynamic ... 1.1.2 Digital control Digital control systems employ a computer as a fundamental component in the controller. The computer typically receives a measurement of the controlled variable, also often receives the reference input, and produces its output using an algorithm. Introduction to Applied Digital Control From the Back Cover This well-respected, marketleading text discusses the use of digital computers in the real-time control of dynamic systems. The emphasis is on the design of digital controls that achieve good dynamic response and small errors while using signals that are sampled in time and quantized in amplitude. Digital Control of Dynamic Systems (3rd Edition) Test Bank `Among the advantages of digital logic for control are the increased flexibility `of the control programs and the decision-making or logic capability of digital `systems, which can be combined with the dynamic control function to meet `other system requirements. `The digital controls studied in this book are for closed-loop (feedback) Every day, eBookDaily adds three new free Kindle books to several different genres, such as Nonfiction, Business & Investing, Mystery & Thriller, Romance, Teens & Young Adult, Children's Books, and others.
902 citations
••
17 Aug 2015TL;DR: A principled control-theoretic model is developed that can optimally combine throughput and buffer occupancy information to outperform traditional approaches in bitrate adaptation in client-side players and is presented as a novel model predictive control algorithm.
Abstract: User-perceived quality-of-experience (QoE) is critical in Internet video applications as it impacts revenues for content providers and delivery systems. Given that there is little support in the network for optimizing such measures, bottlenecks could occur anywhere in the delivery system. Consequently, a robust bitrate adaptation algorithm in client-side players is critical to ensure good user experience. Previous studies have shown key limitations of state-of-art commercial solutions and proposed a range of heuristic fixes. Despite the emergence of several proposals, there is still a distinct lack of consensus on: (1) How best to design this client-side bitrate adaptation logic (e.g., use rate estimates vs. buffer occupancy); (2) How well specific classes of approaches will perform under diverse operating regimes (e.g., high throughput variability); or (3) How do they actually balance different QoE objectives (e.g., startup delay vs. rebuffering). To this end, this paper makes three key technical contributions. First, to bring some rigor to this space, we develop a principled control-theoretic model to reason about a broad spectrum of strategies. Second, we propose a novel model predictive control algorithm that can optimally combine throughput and buffer occupancy information to outperform traditional approaches. Third, we present a practical implementation in a reference video player to validate our approach using realistic trace-driven emulations.
851 citations
••
10 Dec 2012
TL;DR: A principled understanding of bit-rate adaptation is presented and a suite of techniques that can systematically guide the tradeoffs between stability, fairness, and efficiency are developed, which lead to a general framework for robust video adaptation.
Abstract: Many commercial video players rely on bitrate adaptation logic to adapt the bitrate in response to changing network conditions. Past measurement studies have identified issues with today's commercial players with respect to three key metrics---efficiency, fairness, and stability---when multiple bitrate-adaptive players share a bottleneck link. Unfortunately, our current understanding of why these effects occur and how they can be mitigated is quite limited.In this paper, we present a principled understanding of bitrate adaptation and analyze several commercial players through the lens of an abstract player model. Through this framework, we identify the root causes of several undesirable interactions that arise as a consequence of overlaying the video bitrate adaptation over HTTP. Building on these insights, we develop a suite of techniques that can systematically guide the tradeoffs between stability, fairness and efficiency and thus lead to a general framework for robust video adaptation. We pick one concrete instance from this design space and show that it significantly outperforms today's commercial players on all three key metrics across a range of experimental scenarios.
806 citations
••
TL;DR: The technical development of HAS, existing open standardized solutions, but also proprietary solutions are reviewed in this paper as fundamental to derive the QoE influence factors that emerge as a result of adaptation.
Abstract: Changing network conditions pose severe problems to video streaming in the Internet. HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) is a technology employed by numerous video services that relieves these issues by adapting the video to the current network conditions. It enables service providers to improve resource utilization and Quality of Experience (QoE) by incorporating information from different layers in order to deliver and adapt a video in its best possible quality. Thereby, it allows taking into account end user device capabilities, available video quality levels, current network conditions, and current server load. For end users, the major benefits of HAS compared to classical HTTP video streaming are reduced interruptions of the video playback and higher bandwidth utilization, which both generally result in a higher QoE. Adaptation is possible by changing the frame rate, resolution, or quantization of the video, which can be done with various adaptation strategies and related client- and server-side actions. The technical development of HAS, existing open standardized solutions, but also proprietary solutions are reviewed in this paper as fundamental to derive the QoE influence factors that emerge as a result of adaptation. The main contribution is a comprehensive survey of QoE related works from human computer interaction and networking domains, which are structured according to the QoE impact of video adaptation. To be more precise, subjective studies that cover QoE aspects of adaptation dimensions and strategies are revisited. As a result, QoE influence factors of HAS and corresponding QoE models are identified, but also open issues and conflicting results are discussed. Furthermore, technical influence factors, which are often ignored in the context of HAS, affect perceptual QoE influence factors and are consequently analyzed. This survey gives the reader an overview of the current state of the art and recent developments. At the same time, it targets networking researchers who develop new solutions for HTTP video streaming or assess video streaming from a user centric point of view. Therefore, this paper is a major step toward truly improving HAS.
746 citations