This　paper　presents　a　QoS-based　resource　allocation　method　for　handling　multimedia　tasks　in　the　cloud.　Firstly,　with　the　introduction　of　multiple　QoS　requirements　of　the　users　and　the　cloud　service　providers,　the　virtual　resource　allocation　problem　should　be　considered　from　three　aspects:　completion　time,　cost　and　energy　consumption.　Then　the　QoS-based　resource　allocation　method　is　proposed.　In　accordance　with　the　proposed　utility　function,　the　resource　allocation　results　from　the　initial　allocation　will　be　reallocated,　the　best　allocation　results　are　obtained　ultimately.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　proposed　algorithm　can　efficiently　achieve　the　optimal　resource　allocation　results　compared　with　the　inherent　allocation　method.　In　addition,　this　algorithm　also　can　achieve　both　the　task　utility　maximization　and　the　resource　utilization　maximization　even　under　the　packet　loss　case.　©　2013　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.