Bandwidth on Demand in Fixed Access Networks - Application Service aware and User initiated Internet Connectivity

摘要

Service provisioning in customer satisfying quality is one of the most important issues for network and content providers. Beside satisfying customers, the intention of network operators is to overcome the position of just being bit pipe providers. One approach is to use network provider assets to develop new added value services which enable new markets and are beneficial for network operators, content providers and end-users. This paper introduces a bandwidth on demand added value service in access network. The added value service provides feedback to the end-user about the expectable service quality of a requested application service, e.g. a 3rd party video streaming service. Moreover, the end-user gets the possibility offered to increase its network access capabilities (e.g. bandwidth) in the case that the available network resources are not sufficient to deliver the application service in requested quality. For that purpose a central entity requests network capability status from the access network as well as the requirements (e.g. bandwidth demand) of the application on network capabilities. Based on this information the feedback is derived and the option to upgrade the access network capabilities is offered to the user. It is expected that the bandwidth on demand approach improves the quality of experience in application delivery and Internet access.