Efficient broadcasting protocols for video on demand

Abstract

Broadcasting protocols can improve the efficiency of video on demand services by reducing the bandwidth required to transmit videos that are simultaneously watched by many viewers. We present two broadcasting protocols that achieve nearly the same low bandwidth as the best extant broadcasting protocol while guaranteeing a lower maximum access time. Our first protocol, cautious harmonic broadcasting, requires somewhat more bandwidth than our second protocol, quasi-harmonic broadcasting, but is also much simpler to implement.