Optimizing Throughput and Delay in Network Coded Systems

Network coding can significantly enhance data throughout in communication networks. However, it can incur unacceptable decoding delays due to mixing of data packets, which prevents its practical uptake. This project takes a holistic approach to address this issue. This will transform our experience in high data rate delay-sensitive applications such as live video streaming and will significantly expedite delivery of packets in mission-critical applications. We propose new models for throughput-delay interactions and use such models to introduce simple, low-delay and high-throughput adaptive network coding techniques. We consider both wireless and wireline networks and aim to increase user fairness in the new era of heterogeneous networks.