Multi-party WebRTC videoconferencing using scalable VP9 video: from best-effort over-the-top to managed value-added services

Abstract

We propose architectures and implementations for WebRTC videoconferencing services using scalable VP9 video coding with motion-adaptive rate control as either a best-effort over-the-top service or as a managed value-added service with rate reservation over software-defined networks. In the best-effort service, clients perform motion-adaptive layer selection according to the available bandwidth in order to achieve the best overall visual video quality. In the value-added managed service, the service manager reserves bandwidth between mesh-connected clients according to rates agreed by them, and clients perform motion-adaptive layer selection to adapt their send rates to the bandwidths reserved between the end points. The proposed framework has been demonstrated to yield excellent results for both point-to-point two-party and mesh-connected multi-party videoconferencing.