Toward scalable management of multiple service levels in IP networks

This paper analyzes and discusses the role of a distributed and simple admission control (AC) model in achieving scalable management of multiple network service levels. The model design, covering explicit and implicit AC, exhibits relevant properties which allow managing QoS and SLSs in multiservice IP networks in a flexible and scalable manner. These properties stem from the way service-dependent AC and on-line service performance monitoring are proposed and articulated in the model's architecture and operation. The scalability debate, carried out at these two levels, highlights key steps toward performing self-adaptive service-oriented AC and low overhead multiservice monitoring. The performance evaluation results, illustrating the role and relevance of the defined AC rules, show that QoS and SLSs requirements can be efficiently satisfied or bounded, proving that the simplicity, flexibility and self-adaptability of the model can be explored to manage multiple service guarantees successfully

Self-adaptive distributed management of QoS and SLSs in multiservice networks

Apresentação efectuada na International Conference on Integrated Management (IM 2005), Nice, France, May 2005.Distributed service-oriented traffic control mechanisms, operating with minimum impact on network performance, assume a crucial role as regards controlling services quality and network resources transparent and efficiently. In this way, we describe and specify a lightweight distributed admission control (AC) model which provides an uniform solution for managing QoS and SLSs in multiclass and multidomain environments. Taking advantage of the consensual need of on-line service monitoring and traffic control at the network edges, AC decisions are driven by feedback from systematic edge-to-edge measurements of relevant QoS parameters for each service type and SLS utilization. This allows self-adaptive service and resource management, while abstracting from network core complexity and heterogeneity. In this paper, introducing an expressive notation, we specify the high-level entities for multiservice provisioning in a domain and formalize service-dependent AC equations to assure both intra and interdomain model operation. A proof-of-concept of the AC criteria effectiveness in satisfying each service class commitments while achieving high network utilization is provided through simulation

A service-oriented admission control strategy for class-based IP networks

The clear trend toward the integration of current and emerging applications and services in the Internet launches new demands on service deployment and management. Distributed service-oriented traffic control mechanisms, operating with minimum impact on network performance, assume a crucial role as regards controlling services quality and network resources transparently and efficiently. In this paper, we describe and specify a lightweight distributed admission control (AC) model based on per-class monitoring feedback for ensuring the quality of distinct service levels in multiclass and multidomain environments. The model design, covering explicit and implicit AC, exhibits relevant properties that allow managing quality of service (QoS) and service-level specifications (SLSs) in multiservice IP networks in a flexible and scalable manner. These properties, stemming from the way service-dependent AC and on-line service performance monitoring are proposed and articulated in the model’s architecture and operation, allow a self-adaptive service and resource management, while abstracting from network core complexity and heterogeneity. A proof of concept is provided to illustrate the AC criteria ability in satisfying multiple service class commitments efficiently. The obtained results show that the self-adaptive behavior inherent to on-line measurement-based service management, combined with the established AC rules, is effective in controlling each class QoS and SLS commitments consistently

Enabling self-adaptive QoE/QoS control

Handling quality requirements of multimedia services and the expectations of end-users regarding the perceived service quality is currently a major issue for service providers in order to sustain service diversity and improve competitiveness. In this context, this paper presents ongoing work toward a service-oriented architecture for QoE/QoS evaluation and control, which can be deployed to assist the provision of multi-constrained services. Considering the users' QoE perspective and the negotiated service levels, the architecture lays on per service class online monitoring to assist self-adaptive control of multimedia flows entering the network. To perform online monitoring, a distributed and versatile QoS monitoring tool oriented to multiservice networks is proposed. Preliminary results shows that the presented control strategy is effective in providing consistent quality levels to heterogeneous services

Ensuring IP services consistency through lightweight monitoring-based admission control

This paper evaluates the performance of a distributed and lightweight AC model based on per-class edge-to-edge monitoring feedback for ensuring the quality of multiple services in class-based IP networks. The model resorts to service-dependent AC rules for controlling QoS parameters and SLSs utilization, both intradomain and end-to-end. To provide a proof-of-concept of the proposed AC solution, a prototype of the AC model has been developed and tested using a simulation platform. The devised test scenarios aim at exploring the AC criteria's ability in satisfying each service class QoS levels and existing SLSs commitments. Generically, the results show that the proposed AC model, using a two-rule AC criterion defined on a service class basis, is able to control service levels and achieve high network utilization, without adding significant complexity to the network elements. The use of systematic edge-to-edge on-line monitoring and of a controlled degree of overprovisioning proved to be essential design aspects contributing for reaching a good compromise between simplicity and performance.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia FC

Admission control in multiservice IP networks : architectural issues and trends

The trend toward the integration of current and emerging applications and services in the Internet has launched new challenges regarding service deployment and management. Within service management, admission control (AC) has been recognized as a convenient mechanism to keep services under controlled load and assure the required QoS levels, bringing consistency to the services offered. In this context, this article discusses the role of AC in multiservice IP networks and surveys current and representative AC approaches. We address and compare the architectural principles of these AC approaches and their main features, virtues and limitations that impact on the quality control of network services. We identify important design aspects that contribute to the successful deployment of flexible and scalable AC solutions in multiservice networks

The role of admission control in assuring multiple services quality

Considering that network overprovisioning by itself is not always an attainable and everlasting solution, Admission Control (AC) mechanisms are recommended to keep network load controlled and assure the required service quality levels. This article debates the role of AC in multiservice IP networks, providing an overview and discussion of current and representative AC approaches, highlighting their main characteristics, pros and cons regarding the management of network services quality. In this debate, particular emphasis is given to an enhanced monitoring-based AC proposal for assuring multiple service levels in multiclass networks.Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias da Computação do Departamento de Informática da Universidade do Minho (CCTC

Improving QoS guarantees through implicit AC

http://www2.dcc.ufmg.br/eventos/noms2008/In multiservice networks, admission control (AC) is a convenient means of assuring high quality communications by safeguarding enough availability for customer traffic. This can be particularly useful to preserve the quality of services such as IP telephony and video conferencing, and to ensure acceptable throughput to elastic flows. This paper tackles the problematic of performing implicit AC in multiservice networks, pointing out a flexible yet simple to deploy solution for controlling flows which do not explicitly send signaling admission requests. This allows to complement the explicit AC case, widening the ability to integrate services and applications in a transparent way. The versatility and self-adaptability of the proposed distributed AC criteria in ensuring the quality of multiple services is also proved

Distributed admission control in multiservice IP networks : concurrency issues

In distributed admission control (AC) schemes, handling concurrent AC decisions assumes a relevant role in avoiding over or false acceptance and, consequently, service quality degradation. This problematic is even more intricate in multiservice network environments where distinct service levels need to be fulfilled. This paper debates and points out solutions to mitigate the negative impact that distributed admission of flows might have on the service level guarantees provided to network customers. Keeping in mind that simplicity is a key factor for deployable AC solutions, we suggest and discuss the use of (i) a service-dependent concurrency index; (ii) a token-based system and (iii) a rate-based credit system, as alternative or complementary proposals to minimize or solve QoS degradation resulting from AC false acceptance.(undefined

Handling concurrent admission control in multiservice IP networks

Comunicação apresentada na "Consumer Communications & Networkin Conference 2006", Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 8-10 Janeiro 2006.This paper debates the problem of handling concurrent admission control decisions in multiservice networks, putting forward solutions to mitigate the negative impact that distributed admission of flows might have on the service level guarantees provided to network customers. Keeping in mind that simplicity is a key factor for deployable solutions, we suggest and discuss the use of (i) a service-dependent concurrency index; (ii) a token-based system and (iii) a rate-based credit system, as alternative or complementary proposals to minimize or solve QoS degradation resulting from AC false acceptance