ARQ - Video Packet Resend

Techex partners with QVidium who hold a number patents for the implementation of video packet resend technology designed for networks which loose packets such as the internet.

The technology is a type of ARQ which stands for Automatic Retransmission reQuest or Automatic Repeat reQuest uses a patented "Negative acknowledgement" feedback-based mechanism to let the encoder know that a packet was lost during transit to the decoder, and to send a replacement (or retransmission) packet back to the decoder.

When using the same port for ARQ as the outbound transport stream port no inbound firewall ports need to be opened in order to allow the re-request back through to the encoder.

ARQ provides:

• Intelligent & rapid re-send of data: like TCP but
• Optimised for low delay video & audio with minimised overhead
• Automatic configuration

TCP vs. ARQ

TCP/IP Disadvantages:

• Designed for data (web, e-mail, ftp)
• No time bounds: unsuitable for video/audio
• Limits throughput
• Requires positive ACK for all packets

ARQ Advantages:

• Designed for live, real-time (audio, video, etc.)
• Hard time deadlines
• Allows maximum throughput
• Only negative acknowledgements (ACKs) – minimises overhead