Method and apparatus for distributing video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection

1. A method for distributing video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection, the method comprising:

a packet processing function performing:

receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames; and

for each packet in the plurality,

determining the corresponding frame that includes the video data,

applying a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames, and

providing, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer,

wherein applying the bearing selection process comprises:

selecting a highest quality of service level bearer for all of the packets having video data corresponding to the Intra frame; and

selecting the bearer for the packets having video data corresponding to the Predictive frames based on the location of the corresponding Predictive frame within the group of pictures relative to the Intra frame, wherein the quality of service level of the bearer selected decreases as the distance of the Predictive frame from the Intra frame increases.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises inserting a value within the packet, wherein the value is used by the access network entity to transport the packet using the selected bearer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the packet includes an Internet Protocol header, and the value is inserted into a Type of Service field of the Internet Protocol header.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the packet includes an Internet Protocol header, and the value is inserted into a Flow Identifier field of the Internet Protocol header.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each bearer is characterized by a different Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP) value for providing the different quality of service levels.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a highest quality of service bearer in the plurality of bearers is not preemptable, and at least one of the other lower quality of service bearers is preemptable.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each bearer is characterized by a different Quality of Service Class Identifier (QCI) value for providing the different quality of service levels.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bearer selection process is based on a length, [GOP_LENGTH] of the group of pictures.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the bearer selection process comprises:

for N bearers, dividing packets, by frame, into N groups; and

directing packets belonging to a specific group to the bearer with quality of service level X+Y(N), where X is dependent on the overall priority of the media sequence with respect to other prioritized traffic, and Y(N) is monotonically decreasing from [N−1] to 0, with [N−1] assigned to packets closest to the start of the group of pictures, and 0 assigned to packets closet to the end of the group of pictures.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the division of packets, by frame, into N groups results in each group having exactly [GOP_LENGTH]/N frames.

11. A packet processing function for distributing video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection, the packet processing function comprising:

an interface that receives a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames; and

a processing device that:

for each packet in the plurality,

determining the corresponding frame that includes the video data,

applying a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality of bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames, and

providing, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer;

wherein applying the bearing selection process comprises:

selecting a highest quality of service level bearer for all of the packets having video data corresponding to the Intra frame; and

selecting the bearer for the packets having video data corresponding to the Predictive frames based on the location of the corresponding Predictive frame within the group of pictures relative to the Intra frame, wherein the quality of service level of the bearer selected decreases as the distance of the Predictive frame from the Intra frame increases.

12. The packet processing function of claim 11 , where the packet processing function resides in a User Equipment (UE) device.

13. The packet processing function of claim 11 , where the packet processing function resides in an infrastructure device.

14. A computer-readable storage element having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer to perform a method for distributing video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames; and

for each packet in the plurality,

determining the corresponding frame that includes the video data,

applying a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality of bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames, and

providing, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer

wherein applying the bearing selection process comprises:

selecting a highest quality of service level bearer for all of the packets having video data corresponding to the Intra frame; and

selecting the bearer for the packets having video data corresponding to the Predictive frames based on the location of the corresponding Predictive frame within the group of pictures relative to the Intra frame, wherein the quality of service level of the bearer selected decreases as the distance of the Predictive frame from the Intra frame increases.