SLA-based QoS pricing in DiffServ networks

The availability of high-speed transmission media and networking equipment in contemporary networks, as well as the evolution of quality-demanding applications has focused research interest on the provision of advanced qualitative services in addition to the traditional best-effort model of the Internet. A number of alternatives for service differentiation and QoS provisioning have been proposed and standardized, but in the case of backbone, transport networks the DiffServ architecture has prevailed, due to its scalability and deployment feasibility. The provisioning of services according to the DiffServ framework has in turn raised the requirements for interdependent, controlled resource allocation and service pricing, with particular needs for pricing mechanisms that preserve the potential and flexibility of DiffServ. At the same time, such mechanisms should reflect resource usage, allocate resources efficiently, reimburse costs or maximize service provision profits and lead customers to requesting services that will maximize their revenue. In this work, after reviewing related research, the principles that a pricing scheme for DiffServ-based services should follow are presented, stressing the differences form traditional Internet pricing. Based on these principles, an analytical approach to pricing a particular class of DiffServ-based services and a methodology for applying this approach in a real network are proposed and evaluated.     

A QoS-based dynamic pricing approach for services provisioning in heterogeneous wireless access networks

In this paper we propose a simple QoS-based dynamic pricing approach for services provisioning in a heterogeneous wireless access network environment which attempts to increase user’s satisfaction level by firstly, maximizing the provided QoS level, and secondly, by applying dynamic pricing strategies according to the QoS. These strategies will allow service providers to maximize their profits. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed dynamic pricing approach benefits both users and wireless service providers (WSPs). Results also suggest that users have better overall satisfaction due to a better QoS level and fairer prices. The analysis shows that our proposed pricing approach contributes to an increase in WSPs profits compared to the application of the flat-rate pricing model in a competitive market-model.     

An Efficient Resource Allocation Mechanism for LTE–GEPON Converged Networks

Optical–wireless convergence is becoming popular as one of the most efficient access network designs that provides quality of service (QoS) guaranteed, uninterrupted, and ubiquitous access to end users. The integration of passive optical networks (PONs) with next-generation wireless access networks is not only a promising integration option but also a cost-effective way of backhauling the next generation wireless access networks. The QoS performance of the PON–wireless converged network can be improved by taking the advantages of the features in both network segments for bandwidth resources management. In this paper, we propose a novel resource allocation mechanism for long term evolution–Gigabit Ethernet PON (LTE–GEPON) converged networks that improves the QoS performance of the converged network. The proposed resource allocation mechanism takes the advantage of the ability to forecast near future packet arrivals in the converged networks. Moreover, it also strategically leverages the inherited features and the frame structures of both the LTE network and GEPON, to manage the available bandwidth resources more efficiently. Using extensive simulations, we show that our proposed resource allocation mechanism improves the delay and jitter performance in the converged network while guarantying the QoS for various next generation broadband services provisioned for both wireless and wired end users. Moreover, we also analyze the dependency between different parameters and the performance of our proposed resource allocations scheme.     

SLA-based operations of massively multiplayer online games in clouds

Successful massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have today millions of registered users and hundreds of thousands of active concurrent players. To be able to guarantee quality of service (QoS) to a highly variable number of concurrent users, game operators statically over-provision a large infrastructure capable of sustaining the game peak load, even though a large portion of the resources is unused most of the time. To address this problem, we introduce in this work a new MMOG ecosystem for hosting and provisioning of MMOGs which effectively splits the traditional monolithic MMOG companies into three main service providers: game providers, game operators, and resource providers. Their interaction is regulated through comprehensive service level agreements (SLA) that establish the price, terms of operation, and compensation for service violations. In our model, game operators efficiently provision resources for MMOGs from multiple cloud providers, based on dynamic load forecasts, and ensure proper game operation that maintains the required QoS to all clients under varying resource availability. Game providers manage multiple distributed MMOGs for which they lease services under strict operational SLAs from game operators to satisfy all client requests. These three self-standing, smaller, more agile service providers enable access to the MMOG market for the small and medium enterprises, and to the current commercial cloud providers. We evaluate, through simulations based on real-life MMOG traces and commercial cloud SLAs, the impact of resource availability on the QoS offered to the MMOG clients. We find that our model can mitigate the negative effects of resource failures within four minutes and that MMOG server consolidation can accentuate the negative effects of failures in a resource-scarce environment. We further investigate different methods of ranking MMOG operational offers with either single or multiple (competing) MMOG providers. Our results show that compensations for SLA faults in the offer selection process can lead up to 11–16 % gain in the game providers’ income. We also demonstrate that adequate ranking of offers can lead to MMOG operational cost reductions from 20 up to 60 %.     

Optimization of QoS parameters using scheduling techniques in heterogeneous network

Multimedia applications in wireless communication have been increased in recent years. A variety of wireless access technologies is introduced for various needs. The abundant increase in mobile computing devices and different networking systems leads to the support of user’s mobility on heterogeneous network. In general, the roaming users migrate between two different wireless technologies and their service must be supported by vertical handover (HO). Since the roaming users expect a rapid handover experience while switching from one wireless network to another, the handover operation must be enhanced by the networks. Various wireless technologies such as wireless LAN, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP) are interlaced to support many wireless services in rural, urban, and global scenarios. Moreover, quality of service (QoS) has become more significant in many applications where wireless network resources are utilized. In this paper, a handover management scheme is proposed for QoS enhancement in roaming users between WiMAX and WLAN by subscribers of networks belonging to the 3GPP standards. The proposed algorithms genetic queuing, proportionally fair queuing, and WiMAX aware load balancing are analyzed in the scheduling process during handover. The simulation is implemented using NS–2 and the experimental results are obtained for the proposed algorithms and compared with the standard scheme.     

A new approach to dynamic bandwidth allocation in Quality of Service networks: Performance and bounds

Efficient dynamic resource provisioning algorithms are necessary to the development and automation of Quality of Service (QoS) networks. The main goal of these algorithms is to offer services that satisfy the QoS requirements of individual users while guaranteeing at the same time an efficient utilization of network resources.In this paper we introduce a new service model that provides per-flow bandwidth guarantees, where users subscribe for a guaranteed rate; moreover, the network periodically individuates unused bandwidth and proposes short-term contracts where extra-bandwidth is allocated and guaranteed exclusively to users who can exploit it to transmit at a rate higher than their subscribed rate.To implement this service model we propose a dynamic provisioning architecture for intra-domain Quality of Service networks. We develop a set of dynamic on-line bandwidth allocation algorithms that take explicitly into account traffic statistics and users’ utility functions to increase users’ benefit and network revenue.Further, we propose a mathematical formulation of the extra-bandwidth allocation problem that maximizes network revenue. The solution of this model allows to obtain an upper bound on the performance achievable by any on-line bandwidth allocation algorithm.We demonstrate through simulation in realistic network scenarios that the proposed dynamic allocation algorithms are superior to static provisioning in providing resource allocation both in terms of total accepted load and network revenue, and they approach, in several network scenarios, the ideal performance provided by the mathematical model.     

A multimedia service composition scheme for ubiquitous networks

It is a challenging task to develop a high quality and secure multimedia service for mobile terminals used in the ubiquitous computing environment. One of the issues is the resource limitation of mobile terminals. In this paper, we presented a multimedia service composition scheme for sharing computer and communication resources by using plural terminals to compensate for this resource limitation. The proposed scheme is based on user authentication, service access control, and the multi-agent-based adaptive Quality-of-Service (QoS) control framework that we developed. We also proposed a novel access mode control based on the trustworthiness of users and extension of the multi-agent-based adaptive QoS control framework to plural users. Focusing on the home network as a typical ubiquitous network, we implemented a prototype testbed system and showed experimental results for the multimedia service composition.     

Integrated Multimedia Personal Communications with Asymmetric Services for Mobile Users in Cellular Systems

Wireless personal communication networks are evolving to provide integrated multimedia services to mobile users. An important issue in their design is the accommodation of various services each having predefined Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. Efficient resource utilization can be achieved using a medium access scheme that allows various traffic components to be statistically multiplexed and a call admission control to prevent overload. Some multimedia services have asymmetric resource needs. For example, web browsing generally requires more downlink bandwidth than uplink bandwidth. We present a medium access scheme and a call admission control algorithm for guaranteed QoS provisioning in asymmetric integrated multimedia personal communication networks. An overall performance analysis model is developed. Performance characteristics are calculated and presented for an example system.     

Dynamic multiple-frame bandwidth provisioning with fairness and revenue considerations for Broadband Wireless Access Systems

The increasing demand for wireless heterogeneous multimedia services presents a real challenge to mobile network operators. Even with the substantial increase in the supported bandwidth in emerging Broadband Wireless Access Systems (BWASs) such as 3.5G High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), satisfying the bandwidth requirements of mobile users while increasing the revenues of network operators is still one of the major issues in these systems. Therefore, bandwidth provisioning will certainly play a decisive role in the success of such BWASs. In this paper, we propose a novel dynamic multiple-frame bandwidth provisioning scheme for BWASs. The proposed scheme spans multiple time frames and optimally allocates them to the different classes of traffic depending on their weights, the real-time bandwidth requirements of their users’ connections, their channel quality conditions and the expected obtained revenues. To maximize fairness and still maintain service differentiation between classes, we provide a unique formulation for dynamically computing the class weights. Simulation results are provided to show the potential and effectiveness of our scheme.     

Context-aware handoff middleware for transparent service continuity in wireless networks

Advances in wireless networking and content delivery are enabling new challenging provisioning scenarios where a growing number of users access continuous services, e.g., audio/video streaming, while moving among different points of attachment to the Internet, possibly with different connectivity technologies, e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular 3G. That calls for novel middlewares capable of dynamically personalizing service provisioning to the characteristics of client environments, in particular to discontinuities in wireless resource availability due to handoffs. The paper proposes a novel middleware solution, called Mobile agent-based Ubiquitous multimedia Middleware (MUM), that performs effective and context-aware handoff management to transparently avoid service interruptions during both horizontal and vertical handoffs. MUM exploits the full visibility of wireless connections available and their handoff implementations (handoff awareness), of service quality requirements and handoff-related quality degradations (QoS awareness), and of network topology and local resource availability (location awareness); that visibility enables MUM to provide original solutions for handoff prediction, multimedia continuity via adaptive data buffering/pre-fetching, and proactive re-addressing/rebinding.     

Modeling and analysis of the effects of QoS and reliability on pricing, profitability, and risk management in multiperiod grid-computing networks

In this paper we develop a network equilibrium model for optimal pricing and resource allocation in Computational Grid Network. We consider a general network economy model with Grid Resource Providers, Grid Resource Brokers and Grid Users. The proposed framework allows for the modeling and theoretical analysis of Computational Grid Markets that considers a non-cooperative behavior of decision-makers in the same tier of the grid computing network (such as, for example, Grid Resource Providers) as well as cooperative behavior between tiers (between Resource Providers and Grid Brokers). We introduce risk management into the decision making process by analyzing the decision-marker's reliability and quality of service (QoS) requirement. We analyze resource allocation patterns as well as equilibrium price based on demand, supply, and cost structure of the grid computing market network. We specifically answer the following questions with several numerical examples: How do system reliability levels affect the QoS levels of the service providers and brokers under competition? How do system reliability levels affect the profits of resource providers and brokers in a competitive market? How do system reliability levels influence the pricing of the services in a competitive environment? How do users' service request types, QoS requirements, and timing concerns affect users' behaviors, costs and risks in equilibrium? How does the market mechanism allocate resources to satisfy the demands of users? We find that for users who request same services certain timing flexibility can not only reduce the costs but also lower the risks. The results indicated that the value of QoS can be efficiently priced based on the heterogeneous service demands.     

Edge Provisioning and Fairness in VPN-DiffServ Networks

Customers of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) over Differentiated Services (DiffServ) infrastructure are most likely to demand not only security but also guaranteed Quality-of-Service (QoS) in pursuance of their desire to have leased-line-like services. However, expectedly they will be unable or unwilling to predict the load between VPN endpoints. This paper proposes that customers specify their requirements as a range of quantitative services in the Service Level Agreements (SLAs). To support such services Internet Service Providers (ISPs) would need an automated provisioning system that can logically partition the capacity at the edges to various classes (or groups) of VPN connections and manage them efficiently to allow resource sharing among the groups in a dynamic and fair manner. While with edge provisioning a certain amount of resources based on SLAs (traffic contract at edge) are allocated to VPN connections, we also need to provision the interior nodes of a transit network to meet the assurances offered at the boundaries of the network. We, therefore, propose a two-layered model to provision such VPN-DiffServ networks where the top layer is responsible for edge provisioning, and drives the lower layer in charge of interior resource provisioning with the help of a Bandwidth Broker (BB). Various algorithms with examples and analyses are presented to provision and allocate resources dynamically at the edges for VPN connections. We have developed a prototype BB performing the required provisioning and connection admission.     

面向多租户网络资源分配的博弈优化策略

为了应对5G及未来网络中用户间差异化的服务需求,改善多租户网络切片资源利用率低和部署成本高的问题,提出一种基于多租户网络资源分配的博弈优化策略。在多租户网络中,网络切片租户（NSTs）租用基础设施提供商基站的无线频谱资源,将接入服务切片构建为网络切片即服务,为用户提供网络接入服务。将NSTs和用户的关系建模为一个多主多从的Stackelberg博弈,引入切片流行度和服务命中率指标,建立博弈双方的策略空间和收益函数,并证明NSTs的切片订购策略存在唯一的纳什均衡。通过逆向归纳法分析博弈模型,提出一种分布式迭代算法求得用户的最优吞吐量需求以及NSTs的最优切片定价。仿真结果表明,与传统考虑切片资源分配的优化策略对比,基于多租户网络资源分配的博弈优化策略能够有效提高资源利用率和用户满意度,并降低切片部署能耗,较好地实现频谱带宽资源的合理分配。     

Internet服务管理技术综述

1 服务与服务的分类经常提到服务这个概念,那么到底什么是服务呢?文[1]对服务进行了定义:服务就是服务提供方向一个或多个所服务的用户提供的一组实际能力。为研究之便,我们将服务分成两类:一类是传输服务,另一类是应用服务。这两种服务并不完全独立,它们是相互依存的,其中传输服务是应用服务的基础与保证,而应用服务是对传输服务的一种增值与体现。应用     

Dynamic bandwidth provisioning using ARIMA-based traffic forecasting for Mobile WiMAX

With fast proliferation of QoS-enabled wireless packet networks, need for effective QoS control is increasing. In this paper, we focus on QoS provisioning in Mobile WiMAX access service network (ASN). We investigate a dynamic bandwidth provisioning method that can help to increase resource utilization. Our approach consists of two stages: traffic forecasting, followed by bandwidth provisioning. For the first stage, we use auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast traffic based on online measurement. For the second stage, we use a bandwidth provisioning scheme that allocates bandwidths depending on the traffic forecasting. We modeled our problem as a Fractional Knapsack Problem for which we used a greedy algorithm in order to find an approximate solution. Through simulation studies with real-world data sets, we found that our approach could increase the bandwidth for the real-time traffic class and guarantee adequate service quality for the nonreal-time traffic class as well, while maximizing resource utilization.     

Performance evaluation of e-commerce requests in wireless cellular networks

Recent technological advances in mobile devices and wireless networks enable mobile users to order goods in an anywhere and anytime fashion. Quality of Service (QoS) provision is one of the most challenging issues in the heterogeneous wireless network-based e-commerce systems. Such e-commerce systems enable users to roam between different wireless networks operators and geographical areas while providing interactive broadband services and seamless connectivity. Due to movement of users during e-commerce requests, one of the most important QoS factors for successful completion of users' requests is related to handover of request from one cell to another. A handover could fail due to unavailability of sufficient bandwidth in the destination cell. Such failure of ongoing e-commerce requests is highly undesirable and can cause serious problems to the e-commerce users and the service providers. This paper proposes an enhanced priority queuing based handover scheme in order to ensure a seamless connectivity of e-commerce requests. It focuses on the performance anaylsis of the proposed scheme. Experimental study demonstrates that the proposed scheme provides QoS with low connection failure and mean response time for handover of e-commerce requests.     

Bandwidth Aggregation-Aware Dynamic QoS Negotiation for Real-Time Video Streaming in Next-Generation Wireless Networks

In next generation wireless networks, Internet service providers (ISPs) are expected to offer services through several wireless technologies (e.g., WLAN, 3G, WiFi, and WiMAX). Thus, mobile computers equipped with multiple interfaces will be able to maintain simultaneous connections with different networks and increase their data communication rates by aggregating the bandwidth available at these networks. To guarantee quality-of-service (QoS) for these applications, this paper proposes a dynamic QoS negotiation scheme that allows users to dynamically negotiate the service levels required for their traffic and to reach them through one or more wireless interfaces. Such bandwidth aggregation (BAG) scheme implies transmission of data belonging to a single application via multiple paths with different characteristics, which may result in an out-of-order delivery of data packets to the receiver and introduce additional delays for packets reordering. The proposed QoS negotiation system aims to ensure the continuity of QoS perceived by mobile users while they are on the move between different access points, and also, a fair use of the network resources. The performance of the proposed dynamic QoS negotiation system is investigated and compared against other schemes. The obtained results demonstrate the outstanding performance of the proposed scheme as it enhances the scalability of the system and minimizes the reordering delay and the associated packet loss rate.     

层次化移动IPv6环境中的QoS机制

本文针对层次化移动IPv6的网络提出了一种QoS信令，为移动节点提供服务质量的保障。在分析了RSVP信令的特点及其由于对多播的支持而增加的复杂性的基础上，设计了一个简化的RSVP信令，然后把此RSVP信令和层次化的移动协议相结合提出了一个综合的QoS切换方案，并在层次化的移动环境下，对此QoS信令和其它几种QoS机制在资源预留时间和信令负荷方面进行了性能比较。     

Broker-based SLA-aware composite service provisioning

QoS-aware service composition aims to satisfy users’ quality of services (QoS) needs during service composition. Traditional methods simply attempt to maximize user satisfaction by provisioning the composite service instance with the best QoS. These “best-effort” methods fail to take into account that there also exist other consumers competing for the service resources and their decisions of service selection/composition can impact on QoS. Since user's QoS needs can be met once the demanded level is reached, in this paper, we propose an “on-demand” strategy for QoS-aware service composition to replace the traditional “best-effort” strategy. The service broker is introduced to facilitate implementation of this strategy: it first purchases a number of service instances for each component from providers and then provisions the composite services with different QoS classes to consumers. This paper focuses on how the broker follows the service level agreement (SLA) to provision composite services in the “on-demand” manner. This problem is formally expressed as the minimization of the QoS distance function between SLA and QoS of composite service instances, under a series of constraints. Heuristic approaches are proposed for the problem and experiments are conducted at last to verify their effectiveness and efficiency.