Enabling gigabit network access to end users

To achieve innovative network architectures capable of delivering high-speed data transfers to end users, considerable efforts have been invested in minimizing or eliminating the bottlenecks that exist in high-speed network environments. These bottlenecks exist primarily at two levels, namely, network data transmission to the end system and data delivery within the end system to the user. For wired networks, improvements in fiber optic technologies have shifted the bottleneck from the underlying physical network to the end system. However, wireless networks still face obstacles at both levels to achieving high, end-to-end performance data delivery, particularly at gigabit per second rates. We first present current wireless communication technologies aimed at delivering gigabit per second transmission rates to end systems. We then investigate the bottleneck at the end system by exploring experimentally the performance benefits of a network interface architecture designed to enable high-performance, low-latency applications using minimal host resources. We compare the performance of our network interface architecture with the traditional one, using commodity PCs connected by gigabit per second local area networks running protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP/IP. We argue that such a network interface architecture can eliminate the bottlenecks prevalent in current end systems and, consequently, enables users to reap the full benefits of the high-speed networks available today.     

Efficient user-space protocol implementations with QoS guaranteesusing real-time upcalls

Two important requirements for protocol implementations to be able to provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees within the endsystem are: (1) efficient processor scheduling for application and protocol processing and (2) efficient mechanisms for data movement. Scheduling is needed to guarantee that the application and protocol tasks involved in processing each stream execute in a timely manner and obtain their required share of the CPU. We have designed and implemented an operating system (OS) mechanism called the real-time upcall (RTU) to provide such guarantees to applications. The RTU mechanism provides a simple real-time concurrency model and has minimal overheads for concurrency control and context switching compared to thread-based approaches. To demonstrate its efficacy, we have built RTU-based transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) protocol implementations that combine high efficiency with guaranteed performance. For efficient data movement, we have implemented a number of techniques such as: (1) direct movement of data between the application and the network adapter; (2) batching of input-output (I/O) operations to reduce context switches; and (3) header-data splitting at the receiver to keep bulk data page aligned. Our RTU-based user-space TCP/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) implementation provides bandwidth guarantees for bulk data connections even with real-time and “best-effort” load competing for CPU on the endsystem. Maximum achievable throughput is higher than the NetBSD kernel implementation due to efficient data movement. Sporadic and small messages with low delay requirements are also supported using reactive RTUs that are scheduled with very low delay. We believe that ours is the first solution that combines good data path performance with application-level bandwidth and delay guarantees for standard protocols and OSs     

Designing the interworking of terrestrial and satellite IP-basednetworks

The design of effective interworking between a multimedia terrestrial backbone and a satellite access platform is a key issue for the development of a large-scale IP system designed for transporting multimedia applications with QoS guarantees. This article focuses on the design of a gateway station that acts as an interworking unit between the two segments of the systems. The guarantee of differentiated QoS for applications within the envisaged global IT system is achieved effectively by assuming that the IP IntServ model in the satellite access system is combined with a DiffServ fixed core network, in which the RSVP aggregation protocol is implemented. Thus, the design activity of the IWU mainly focuses on the following issues: seamless roaming between the two heterogeneous wireless and wired environments, efficient integration between the two IP service models (IntServ and DiffServ), and suitable mapping of terrestrial onto satellite bearer for traffic with different profiles and QoS requirements     

Dynamically selecting protocols for socket applications

An application enablement method that enables communications applications to run on protocols for which they were not written is discussed. The focus is on a subset of networks and communications application programming interfaces. The communications interface chosen is Berkeley sockets. The network protocols used are SNA (Systems Network Architecture) and TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). The running of existing socket applications over SNA networks, which requires support for transparently masking the differences between TCP/IP and SNA from the applications, is described. Protocol selection, address mapping, and connection management are also described     

Application-Level QoS Negotiation and Signaling for Advanced Multimedia Services in the IMS

The IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) has been recognized as a reference next-generation network architecture for offering multimedia services over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based infrastructure. One of the key benefits of the IMS is efficient and flexible introduction of new services and access to third-party application providers, thanks to standard interfaces and standardized service capabilities. To support novel media-rich applications across a wide range of user devices and access networks, IMS must support negotiable quality of service (QoS) for IP multimedia sessions. In this article, we describe the application-level QoS signaling as specified by the 3GPP and propose some enhancements based on advanced QoS parameter matching and optimization functionality to be included along the signaling path. We outline various signaling flow scenarios and discuss them in the context of a case study involving an IMS-supported 3D virtual environment, featuring a treasure-hunt-like game.     

Proportional delay differentiation provision by bandwidth adaptation of class‐based queue scheduling

Supporting quality of service (QoS) over the Internet is a very important issue and many mechanisms have already been devised or are under way towards achieving this goal. One of the most important approaches is the so‐called Differentiated Services (DiffServ) architecture, which provides a scalable mechanism for QoS support in a TCP/IP network. The main concept underlying DiffServ is the aggregation of traffic flows at an ingress (or egress) point of a network and the marking of the IP packets of each traffic flow according to several classification criteria. Diffserv is classified under two taxonomies: the absolute and the relative. In absolute DiffServ architecture, an admission control scheme is utilized to provide QoS as absolute bounds of specific QoS parameters. The relative DiffServ model offers also QoS guarantees per class but in reference to the guarantees given to the other classes defined. In this paper, relative proportional delay differentiation is achieved based on class‐based queueing (CBQ) scheduler. Specifically, the service rates allocated to the classes of a CBQ scheduler are frequently adjusted in order to obtain relative delay spacing among them. The model presented can also be exploited in order to meet absolute delay constraints in conjunction with relative delay differentiation provision. Simulation experiments verify that our model can attain relative as well as absolute delay differentiation provided that the preconditions posed are satisfied. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The NGI ONRAMP test bed: reconfigurable WDM technology for nextgeneration regional access networks

Next generation internet optical network for regional access using multi-wavelength protocols (NGI ONRAMP) is a pre-competitive consortium sponsored by DARPA. Its mission is to develop architectures, protocols, and algorithms for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-based regional access networks that will effectively support the NGI. A reconfigurable WDM test bed is being built to demonstrate some of the key thrusts of the consortium, including dynamic service provisioning and optical flow switching, service protection in the optical domain, medium access control protocols, and network control and management geared for the efficient transport of Internet traffic over WDM networks. The ONRAMP test bed will consist of a feeder network connecting via access nodes to distribution networks on which the end users reside. ONRAMP network reconfiguration is enabled by access nodes that contain both optical and electronic switching components, allowing data traffic to be routed all-optically through the network or to be switched and aggregated by electronic Internet protocol (IP) routers. This paper describes the goals and basic architecture of the ONRAMP test bed, as well as the design, construction, and characterization of the network access nodes. To illustrate test bed operation, we demonstrate optical flow switching over the test bed that achieves Gb/s throughput of TCP data between end user workstations     

QoS in DSL access

Which enrichments are required for the DSL architecture to transform the DSL access network from a vehicle for best effort Internet access to a multiservice platform enabling added value conversational and data services? This article details an architecture for DSL access facilitating IP service guarantees leveraging the available QoS mechanisms in the transport-technology-specific data plane, while extending the control plane. Enhanced resource and information control, policy enforcement, and advanced IP connection establishment mechanisms are key elements for the network access provider to enter the value chain for delivery of IP services.     

QoS support for integrated services over CATV

Cable TV has emerged as a promising access network infrastructure for the delivery of voice, video, and high-speed data traffic. A central issue in the design of protocols for CATV networks is to support different levels of QoS for diverse user applications. While CATV service providers and equipment have standardized, in the so-called MCNS protocol, the basic network architecture and interfaces, issues in the MAC layer for QoS support are likely to be left for differentiation in vendor products. This article first presents an overview of the basic CATV network architectural assumptions and the set of QoS requirements for supporting integrated services over CATV. It then discusses a MAC layer scheduling protocol that can efficiently multiplex constant bit rate traffic, such as voice over IP with guaranteed delay bound, and best-effort traffic, such as data services with minimum bit rate guarantee, while achieving fairness on any excess available bandwidth. The performance of this algorithm is illustrated by simulation results using Opnet. We also discuss a dynamic polling mechanism that enhances the link utilization while preserving delay bounds for latency-critical traffic     

Compensating for moderate effective throughput at the desktop

This article presents the design and development of a networking system architecture targeted to support high-speed TCP/IP communication over ATM. The discussed architecture has been developed in the form of an integrated system which incorporates state-of-the-art software and hardware subsystems, and an OC-12c ATM adapter (622 Mb/s). Moreover, the design of this embedded system has been based on the Chorus real-time operating system, which, in turn, hosts an accelerated TCP/IP protocol stack over ATM. Furthermore, the embedded system board has been developed according to the PCI specification to easily be plugged into a host platform. In addition, the OC-12c ATM adapter subsystem has been designed and developed in order to also be plugged into the same host. The developed architecture has proven very efficient and reliable, providing high-throughput and low-latency bulk data communications. The measured performance on an OC-3c-based (155 Mb/s) testbed has shown that an optimally implemented TCP/IP stack, hosted by a real-time kernel and coupled with an ATM adapter, offers a robust desktop platform for high-speed end-to-end communications. The main feature of the accelerated TCP/IP protocol stack is the out-of-band processing of control and data information. The protocol accelerator embedded system processes the TCP/IP headers and accomplishes checksum computations, while data is transferred from the host's user memory space directly to the network. Finally, for validation purposes, the prototype system has been incorporated in an existing networking infrastructure targeted to support mass storage applications     

Theories and models for Internet quality of service

We survey advances in theories and models for Internet quality of service (QoS). We start with the theory of network calculus, which lays the foundation for support of deterministic performance guarantees in networks, and illustrate its applications to integrated services, differentiated services, and streaming media playback delays. We also present mechanisms and architecture for scalable support of guaranteed services in the Internet, based on the concept of a stateless core. Methods for scalable control operations are also discussed. We then turn our attention to statistical performance guarantees and describe several new probabilistic results that can be used for a statistical dimensioning of differentiated services. Lastly, we review proposals and results in supporting performance guarantees in a best effort context. These include models for elastic throughput guarantees based on TCP performance modeling, techniques for some QoS differentiation without access control, and methods that allow an application to control the performance it receives, in the absence of network support     

Network architecture and medium access control for deploying third generation (3G) wireless systems over CATV networks

We propose a novel and cost‐effective approach for the deployment of third generation (3G) wireless systems over hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) CATV networks. The main goal is to facilitate 3G deployment over the existing CATV plant and reduce the large cost required for building a dedicated last mile infrastructure for 3G access networks. Our proposal reduces the last mile cost by sharing the existing CATV network and using the standard equipment and protocols of data‐over‐cable systems interface specifications (DOCSIS). This allows rapid deployment of 3G wireless systems, facilitates convergence of wireless and wireline networks and paves the way towards all IP wireless networks. Enhancements to the DOCSIS medium access control (MAC) protocol must be implemented in order to support Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for 3G data and signaling traffic. This paper presents the proposed 3G over CATV network architecture and DOCSIS medium access control (MAC) enhancements for enabling the support of QoS guarantees for 3G data and signaling traffic. The proposed MAC enhancements can reduce the access delay for delay‐sensitive traffic by 30 to 40% over existing DOCSIS MAC without compromising QoS guarantees for other traffic classes, or the DOCSIS channel utilization. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

延迟约束多播路由问题的分支优化算法

QoS保证下的多播服务对于许多多媒体实时应用程序是重要的,QoS约束下的多播路由协议要求寻找连接源节点和目标节点集的支撑树使得端到端的QoS约束得以满足同时优化网络资源消耗,延迟约束最小代价树DCST是其中的关键问题.本文提出一个关于DCST的分支优化算法,该算法的核心思想是通过反向分支调节过程调整不满足QoS约束的路径并且减少对原支撑树结构的影响.仿真显示本文的算法对于实际网络是有效的.     

An Efficient RSVP–Mobile IP Interworking Scheme

During the past years, several attempts have been made to develop functionality for mobility management support and QoS provision in the realm of the IP networks. Since IP was not designed to support such functionality, new protocols have been specified and implemented to tackle these issues. Mobile IP is currently the dominant protocol that allows users to retain connectivity while roaming in IP networks. RSVP (Resource reSerVation Protocol) is a well established protocol for reserving network resources to support QoS requirements. These protocols, when deployed separately, can work quite efficiently. However, if their functionality is combined, several inefficiencies arise in terms of QoS deterioration and misuse of the network resources. To minimize these inefficiencies, we propose a new approach that limits mobility and QoS related network modifications inside the domain, in which a user moves. The deployment of our scheme enhances the network resource usage efficiency, while minimizing the duration of the QoS deterioration experienced after a terminal movement. To quantify the advantages of our proposal, we have developed an analytical and a simulation model that we also present in this paper.     

区分服务网络中的TCP友好公平体系

区分服务(Differentiated Services)是IETF为实现IP服务质量(QoS)而定义的一个体系结构。研究表明,在该体系中存在不公平问题,该文将TCP友好(TCP Friendly)的概念引入到DS网络中,并定义了DS网络中的TCP友好的公平性,仿真验证了目前IETF定义的流量调节(TrafficConditioning)以及丢包策略等机制不能很好地实现TCP友好公平性,因而提出了直接拥塞控制机制来实现这一公平性。     

A distributed industrial battery management network

This paper discusses a control network organization for industrial battery management. The battery network is logically partitioned into strings containing groups of cells. These groups of cells are managed locally by distributed control nodes that communicate through the local controller area network (CAN). Battery information is communicated to the remote user through TCP/IP. Both CAN and TCP/IP are connected through the gateway database, allowing for transitions from the battery process time and data volume domain into that of the remote user. The system architecture is based on multiple concurrent processes that facilitate necessary battery monitoring and charge management as well as availability of timely interaction with remote users. Autonomy of these processes is encouraged through the distributed data storage organization. Modeling and testing of the proposed architecture reflects the potential capacity for managing battery requirements and network traffic. Scalability of the approach to suit battery network size may also prove useful to serve other similar applications.     

A quality-of-service signaling architecture for seamless handover support in next generation,IP-based mobile networks

The coupling of signaling protocols for mobility management and resource reservation plays an important role to achieve Quality-of-Service (QoS) in wireless environments. When performing a handover, request and allocation of resources have to be done in the shortest possible time to avoid disruptions for the user service. Therefore, it is preferable to ensure resource availability in advance, which we call anticipated handover. This approach for providing seamless handovers in turn poses challenges for the overall design of the QoS architecture and its associated QoS signaling protocol. This article describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive QoS architecture and a suitable QoS signaling protocol. It discusses intrinsic problems of reservations in IP based networks such as session ownership as well as a number of protocol design issues regarding the integration of QoS signaling with other protocols, such as Mobile IP. In particular, we define an end-to-end QoS architecture and a mobility-aware reservation signaling protocol Mobility Aware Reservation Signaling Protocol (MARSP) that supports anticipated handover, thus enabling seamless services over heterogeneous wireless access networks. The presented architecture and protocol were implemented and evaluated by measurements. They show that anticipated handovers not only outperform hard handovers regarding handover latency, but that they also provide functional and robustness advantages. Authors Hillebrand and Prehofer changed their affiliation in the meantime, the work described in this paper was carried out during their employment at DoCoMo Communications Laboratories Europe.     

LTE系统中用户平面承载的研究与实现

LTE系统取消了QoS协商机制,采用网络端承载控制模式.用户平面引入EPS承载进行IP分组包的传输.研究并设计出满足LTE系统QoS机制的EPS承载,针对未来数据业务具有高速、突发性的特征,基于EPS承载传输IP分组包的应用,真正实现了用户的"永远在线",提高了业务的数据速率.