We design two algorithms for distributed cooperation among multiple video streams in sharing common communication resources. The algorithms take advantage of an optimization framework that characterizes video packets such that joint resource allocation can be performed not only over the packets of a single stream, but also across packets of different streams. The first algorithm enables collaboration among multiple video senders in an 802.11 CSMA/CA wireless network such that their joint performance is maximized. Via the algorithm, the users cooperatively establish transmission priorities based on the assigned characterizations of their video packets. The second technique allows for low-complexity joint bandwidth adaptation of multiple video streams at intermediate network nodes in the Internet in order to maximize the overall network performance. We analyze the advantages of the proposed algorithms over conventional solutions employed in such scenarios. It is shown that depending on system parameters such as available network data rate the proposed techniques can provide substantial gains in end-to-end performance.

Previously, we have also designed a technique for distributed packet scheduling of multiple video streams in wireless networks that employ TDMA/TDD as an access scheme. Furthermore, we have extended this work to media cooperation algorithms for overlay (peer-to-peer) networks.