Demo: Seamless mobile video streaming in multicast multi-RAT communications

In this demo, we propose a software defined transport-layer proxy architecture as a video streaming solution, that combines multicast and unicast transmissions to provide a seamless video experience. The proposed model employs zero-touch deployment to the handsets and the operator, and allows the combination of different wireless links, e.g., 4G, 5G, WiFi, in a simple and backwards compatible manner. We showcase in a real setup and emulated networks a mobile scenario, where a user migrates from a home DSL network to multicast 5G, and experiences a continuous decline in channel conditions as he moves from the cell center towards the edge. The multicast service is supplemented by different radio technologies (e.g., 4G, WiFi) through unicast and multicast transmissions, by traffic splitting and by provisioning application layer forward error correction (FEC). The proposed Augmented Multicast mUltipath ServicE (AMUSE) is compared against the state-of-the-art, i.e., single radio access multicast service. As the user channel conditions gradually deteriorate, we demonstrate a seamless video experience for AMUSE clients, whereas the typical client suffers from frequent re-buffer events, and eventually a service breakdown.