Random Linear Network Coding Based Alternative Scheduling Algorithms with Two Sources

To lessen the impact of multicast member with the worst link quality on multicast rate in single source multicast, static and dynamic alternative scheduling algorithms are presented for reliable multicast with two sources. Through transmitting encode packets alternately, the presented algorithms exploit the link heterogeneity between multicast members and different sources. Compared with single source multicast, theoretical analysis and simulations show that both scheduling algorithms can effictively improve the multicast rate, thereby decrease expected time for completing transmission. Dynamic alternative scheduling algorithm acheives less expected transmission time by dynamically updating parameter.