A feedback merging algorithm based on utility distance in adaptive layered multicast
Xiaojun Ma · Journal of China Institute of Communications · 2004
Feedback merging mechanism has been proposed as an effective solution to the feedback implosion problem which arises in large scale source-adaptive layered multicast applications. In this paper, a multicast model named UALM (utility-oriented adaptive layered multicast) was presented firstly, in which utility was introduced as the metric to measure the users satisfaction with the applications. Then the feedback merging mechanism was elaborated to control the amount of feedback messages while minimizing the loss of utility due to feedback merging. In particular, different merging rules were examined in detail and a merging algorithm based on weighted utility distance was presented subsequently. Simulation results showed that the merging algorithm led to much less feedback arrivals at the senders side while maintaining the system utility comparable to that without feedback merging mechanism. It suggests that UALM can be applied in a scalable manner when coupled with this algorithm.