Wireless Video Applications

Published 19 Jun 2017

The paper “Wireless Video Applications in 3G and Beyond” provides thorough examination and evaluation of wireless video applications which are expected to go to the technology market in 3G mobile networks. The paper addresses mainly error control technologies in view of “wireless video”. Several related 3GPP standards are introduced for readers in order to provide better understanding of wireless technologies. Actually, the authors pay attention to circuit-switch multimedia telephony, multimedia messaging services, multimedia broadcast service and, finally, end-to-end packet-switched streaming. It is necessary to admit that those technologies are discussed in terms of their supporting technologies.

The main reason of discussing 3G technologies is that “those standard descriptions give unbiased technical depth about the applications”. When highlighting wireless video, the authors discuss future directions of error control technologies stating that layer 1/2 transport aims at providing two main conditions: burst errors during fading period and quasi error free. Therefore, it is suggested that error control technologies are limited in upper levels. It is required to focus more on extraordinary adaptability of error control in order to improve performance and reliability of 3G technologies.

The authors identify rate control as “essential technology that provides extraordinary adaptability to varying bandwidth”. The authors recommend developing signaling link layer information to the upper layers. It would ensure progressive download applications. Nevertheless, one of the challenges of 3G technology is low levels of predicting how and when a new killer application will emerge.

Main Points:

  • 3G technologies include general packet radio service, enhanced data global system for mobile communications environment, high speed downlink packet access, universal mobile telecommunications system;
  • 3GPP is viewed as “mixture of wireless narrowband integrated services digital network”;
  • 3G is discussed in terms of circuit-switch multimedia telephony, multimedia messaging services, multimedia broadcast service and end-to-end packet-switched streaming;
  • 3G technologies include all necessary protocols and meet standards;
  • 3G will be characterized by large bandwidth, delay variations, two error states, error control adaptability, etc.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

The paper is a well-organized and coherent study of the subject. The author is very persuasive in defending the position that 3G technologies provide more benefits for consumers. One more strong point of the article is abundant data and example to provide better understanding of 3G technologies, especially wireless video applications. Actually, the paper addresses not only theoretical, but also practical implications of the arguments.

Relevant conclusion summing up main points is apparent strength of the article. The paper is highly theoretical aiming at expanding existing knowledge of wireless technologies. Nevertheless, the paper is rather complicated for reading and it would be better to illustrate benefits of 3G by comparing it with other currently used wireless systems. Nevertheless, little is told about the drawbacks of 3G and wireless video applications. It seems that the author tries to conceal apparent disadvantages paying most attention to history of development and other related issues.

References

  • Etoh, M. & Yoshimura, T. (2005, August).Wireless Video Applications in 3G and Beyond. IEEE Wireless Communications, 66-73.
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