Enabling Agile Video Transcoding Over Sdn/Nfv-Enabled Networks

Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) provide an appealing 5G vision of how content distribution networks can be enhanced with in-service transcoding and adaptation processes. This paper describes a proof-of-concept experimental implementation of SDN/NFV-enabled network domain towards providing an agile video transcoding process for maintaining the QoE level of a media service when network congestion occurs. The paper shows how SDN/NFV techniques are facilitating the dynamic deployment of a transcoder VNF upon a triggering event of a congested bottleneck at the access link of the end-user. Video quality measurements demonstrate the efficiency of the VNF deployment and the seamless applicability of the transcoding process without experiencing any service interruption.