Optimal channel rate allocation for multimedia communication over fading wireless channels

We consider the coding specifics of wireless broadcast terminals in hybrid multimedia communication systems, those consisting of a set of wireless and wired clients. In particular, we propose an information theoretically motivated framework for optimal multi-rate communication of multimedia contents, generically coded for a packet switched network, over fading wireless channels. The results in this paper however, extent themselves to any other wireless digital broadcast system as well. Under idealized conditions, for both fast and slow fading scenarios, the optimal rate allocations can be found by solving a convex optimization problem. We then devise a systematic way to find a near optimal solution for non-ideal, practical scenarios. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of our approach through simulations of an image streaming system that uses rate compatible convolutional codes to transmit multiple-description coded packets at the wireless access point.