The invention relates to an
overlay network layered
multicast optimal
resource allocation method for a scalable video
stream, and provides a new measurement standard for the
multicast performance, namely layer extensity which is used for measuring end-to-end time
delay of video
layers during data distribution aiming at layered
multicast communication of the scalable video
stream in the
overlay network. In order to realize the overall minimization of the layer extensity, the method carries out the combined optimization on the
network code of
relay nodes, the receiving end driven flow control, and multi-path
route strategy, and adopts a
linear programming method to establish a layered multicast resource optimum allocation model for the
overlay network. On one hand, the method adaptively matches the interlayer dependency of the scalable video code; on the other hand, the method allows a receiving node to decide and regulate the required
video quality of own accord. In addition, the invention also provides a distributed
heuristic algorithm which has
low complexity, approaches the globally optimal solution and is applied to the construction of a scalable video flow distribution network.