Modeling packet-loss visibility in MPEG-2 video

Abstract

We consider the problem of predicting packet loss visibility in MPEG-2 video. We use two modeling approaches: CART and GLM. The former classifies each packet loss as visible or not; the latter predicts the probability that a packet loss is visible. For each modeling approach, we develop three methods, which differ in the amount of information available to them. A reduced reference method has access to limited information based on the video at the encoder's side and has access to the video at the decoder's side. A no-reference pixel-based method has access to the video at the decoder's side but lacks access to information at the encoder's side. A no-reference bitstream-based method does not have access to the decoded video either; it has access only to the compressed video bitstream, potentially affected by packet losses. We design our models using the results of a subjective test based on 1080 packet losses in 72 minutes of video.