Pre-fetching strategy to support VCR operation in P2P VoD systems

Abstract

Video streaming is one of the most important applications of peer to peer networks. there are two kinds of streaming: (1)live, and (2)Video on Demand. In VoD streaming unlike live streaming, users can freely do VCR operation (such as forward and backward,...), so the number of peers that watch same parts and have same segments in their buffer, compared with the live streaming will be fewer. This causes increase playback latency and excessive stress on the content server. One of the proposed solutions to support VCR operation, is content pre-fetching before being requested by the user. In this paper, we present pre-fetching approach API for P2P VoD streaming. we develop API by considering Anchor points (instant points), popular parts of video and User Interests. This approach reduces the playback latency, maintains playback continuity and satisfies users when playing video. After simulating, average playback delay, with API streaming has decreased 13 times compared to streaming without pre-fetching. User satisfaction with API strategy has increased 27.794% compared to the anchor based pre-fetching. In addition, using of cloud service in our proposed method reduces the average playback delay when there is a risk of lossing provider.