Workload Models of VBR Video Traffic and their Use in Resource Allocation Policies

open3The load generated by new types of communications services related to multimedia and video transmission is becoming one of the major sources of traffic in WAN networks. Modeling this type of load is a prerequisite for any performance study. In this paper, we approach the load-characterization problem from a global point of view by analyzing a set of 20 video streams. We developed resource-, subject-, and scene-oriented characterizations of coded video streams.openMANZONI P.; CREMONESI P.; G. SERAZZIManzoni, P.; Cremonesi, Paolo; G., Serazz

Performance evaluation of an open distributed platform for realistic traffic generation

Network researchers have dedicated a notable part of their efforts to the area of modeling traffic and to the implementation of efficient traffic generators. We feel that there is a strong demand for traffic generators capable to reproduce realistic traffic patterns according to theoretical models and at the same time with high performance. This work presents an open distributed platform for traffic generation that we called distributed internet traffic generator (D-ITG), capable of producing traffic (network, transport and application layer) at packet level and of accurately replicating appropriate stochastic processes for both inter departure time (IDT) and packet size (PS) random variables. We implemented two different versions of our distributed generator. In the first one, a log server is in charge of recording the information transmitted by senders and receivers and these communications are based either on TCP or UDP. In the other one, senders and receivers make use of the MPI library. In this work a complete performance comparison among the centralized version and the two distributed versions of D-ITG is presented

A genetic approach to Markovian characterisation of H.264 scalable video

We propose an algorithm for multivariate Markovian characterisation of H.264/SVC scalable video traces at the sub-GoP (Group of Pictures) level. A genetic algorithm yields Markov models with limited state space that accurately capture temporal and inter-layer correlation. Key to our approach is the covariance-based fitness function. In comparison with the classical Expectation Maximisation algorithm, ours is capable of matching the second order statistics more accurately at the cost of less accuracy in matching the histograms of the trace. Moreover, a simulation study shows that our approach outperforms Expectation Maximisation in predicting performance of video streaming in various networking scenarios

Dynamic bandwidth allocation in ATM networks

Includes bibliographical references.This thesis investigates bandwidth allocation methodologies to transport new emerging bursty traffic types in ATM networks. However, existing ATM traffic management solutions are not readily able to handle the inevitable problem of congestion as result of the bursty traffic from the new emerging services. This research basically addresses bandwidth allocation issues for bursty traffic by proposing and exploring the concept of dynamic bandwidth allocation and comparing it to the traditional static bandwidth allocation schemes

Variable bit rate video time-series and scene modeling using discrete-time statistically self-similar systems

This thesis investigates the application of discrete-time statistically self-similar (DTSS) systems to modeling of variable bit rate (VBR) video traffic data. The work is motivated by the fact that while VBR video has been characterized as self-similar by various researchers, models based on self-similarity considerations have not been previously studied. Given the relationship between self-similarity and long-range dependence the potential for using DTSS model in applications involving modeling of VBR MPEG video traffic data is presented. This thesis initially explores the characteristic properties of the model and then establishes relationships between the discrete-time self-similar model and fractional order transfer function systems. Using white noise as the input, the modeling approach is presented using least-square fitting technique of the output autocorrelations to the correlations of various VBR video trace sequences. This measure is used to compare the model performance with the performance of other existing models such as Markovian, long-range dependent and M/G/(infinity) . The study shows that using heavy-tailed inputs the output of these models can be used to match both the scene time-series correlations as well as scene density functions. Furthermore, the discrete-time self-similar model is applied to scene classification in VBR MPEG video to provide a demonstration of potential application of discrete-time self-similar models in modeling self-similar and long-range dependent data. Simulation results have shown that the proposed modeling technique is indeed a better approach than several earlier approaches and finds application is areas such as automatic scene classification, estimation of motion intensity and metadata generation for MPEG-7 applications

On the time scales in video traffic characterization for queueing behavior

To guarantee quality of service (QoS) in future integrated service networks, traffic sources must be characterized to capture the traffic characteristics relevant to network performance. Recent studies reveal that multimedia traffic shows burstiness over multiple time scales and long range dependence (LRD). While researchers agree on the importance of traffic correlation there is no agreement on how much correlation should be incorporated into a traffic model for performance estimation and dimensioning of networks. In this article, we present an approach for defining a relevant time scale for the characterization of VER video traffic in the sense of queueing delay. We first consider the Reich formula and characterize traffic by the Piecewise Linear Arrival Envelope Function (PLAEF). We then define the cutoff interval above which the correlation does not affect the queue buildup. The cutoff interval is the upper bound of the time scale which is required for the estimation of queue size and thus the characterization of VER video traffic. We also give a procedure to approximate the empirical PLAEF with a concave function; this significantly simplifies the calculation in the estimation of the cutoff interval and delay bound with little estimation loss. We quantify the relationship between the time scale in the correlation of video traffic and the queue buildup using a set of experiments with traces of MPEG/JPEG-compressed video. We show that the critical interval i.e. the range for the correlation relevant to the queueing delay, depends on the traffic load: as the traffic load increases, the range of the time scale required for estimation for queueing delay also increases. These results offer further insights into the implication of LRD in VER video traffic. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights reserved