An Experimental Evaluation of a QoS Signaling API for Network-aware Multimedia Applications in NGN

摘要

Heterogeneous environment of the Next Generation Network, involving diverse user devices and access options, as well as versatile network infrastructure, calls for closer cooperation between network entities and multimedia applications in achieving end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS). This typically involves a signaling mechanism, as a means for an application to request a certain QoS from the network, and in return to receive notifications related to various network conditions of interest, hence possibly adapting to them. This so-called "network-aware" approach served as the basis for designing the Dynamic Service Adaptation (DSA) Model for signaling, negotiation, and adaptation of QoS parameters for multimedia services. Based on DSA Model, the DSA API was developed. It encompasses generic functionality related to session-level QoS signaling. The paper presents designed signaling scenarios and an experimental evaluation of DSA API in a laboratory environment, using a prototype network-aware multimedia application that features a virtual 3D Web-based environment.