The growing demand on the variety of internet applications requires management of large scale networks by efficient Quality of Service (QoS) routing, which considerably contributes to the QoS architecture. The biggest contemporary drawback in the maintenance and distribution of the global state is the increase in communication overheads. Unbalancing in the network, due to the frequent use of the links assigned to the shortest path retaining most of the network loads is regarded as a major problem for best effort service. Localised QoS routing, where the source nodes use statistics collected locally, is already described in contemporary sources as more advantageous. Scalability, however, is still one of the main concerns of existing localised QoS routing algorithms. The main aim of this thesis is to present and validate new localised algorithms in order to develop the scalability of QoS routing. Existing localised routing, Credit Based Routing (CBR) and Proportional Sticky Routing (PSR), use the blocking probability as a factor in selecting the routing paths and work with either credit or flow proportion respectively, which makes impossible having up-to-date information. Therefore our proposed Highest Minimum Bandwidth (HMB) and Highest Average Bottleneck Bandwidth History (HABBH) algorithms utilise bandwidth as the direct QoS criterion to select routing paths. We introduce an Integrated Delay Based Routing and Admission Control mechanism. Using this technique Minimum Total Delay (MTD), Low Fraction Failure (LFF) and Low Path Failure (LPF) were compared against the global QoS routing scheme, Dijkstra, and localised High Path Credit (HPC) scheme and showed superior performance. The simulation with the non-uniformly distributed traffic reduced blocking probability of the proposed algorithms. Therefore, we advocate the algorithms presented in the thesis, as a scalable approach to control large networks. We strongly suggest that bandwidth and mean delay are feasible QoS constraints to select optimal paths by locally collected information. We have demonstrated that a few good candidate paths can be selected to balance the load in the network and minimise communication overhead by applying the disjoint paths method, recalculation of candidate paths set and dynamic paths selection method. Thus, localised QoS routing can be used as a load balancing tool in order to improve the network resource utilization. A delay and bandwidth combination is one of the future prospects of our work, and the positive results presented in the thesis suggest that further development of a distributed approach in candidate paths selection may enhance the proposed localised algorithms. / Umm AlQura University in Mecca

In der theoretischen Auseinandersetzung mit mobilen Internet-Diensten sind Quality of Service (QoS) und Quality of Experience (QoE) als hochkomplexe und verbundene Konzepte zu erkennen. QoS umfasst dabei die technische Sicht auf das Telekommunikationsnetz, charakterisiert durch leistungsrelevante Parameterwerte (z. B. Durchsatz und Latenz). QoE hingegen bezieht sich auf die Bewertung des Nutzererlebnisses (z. B. Zufriedenheit und Akzeptanz). Zur gemeinsamen Erklärung bedarf es einer multi- bzw. interdisziplinären Betrachtung zwischen Ingenieurs- und Humanwissenschaften, da neben der Technik auch der Mensch als Nutzer in den QoS-QoE-Zusammenhang involviert ist. Ein mehrschichtiges Modell erfasst die relevanten Einflussfaktoren und internen Zusammenhänge zwischen QoS und QoE sowohl aus Netz- als auch Nutzersicht. Zur Quantifizierung des Zusammenhangs konkreter Werte in einer empirischen QoE-Evaluation wurde ein umfangreiches psychophysikalisches Laborexperiment konzipiert. Das dafür entwickelte Netzemulations-Testbed erlaubt mobiltypische Netz- und Nutzungssituationen gezielt in einem Testparcours zusammenzubringen. Die formulierten Prinzipien zur Testrelevanz, -eignung und -effizienz berücksichtigen hierbei die Besonderheiten des Testaufbaus und -designs mit echten Endgeräten und Diensten. Die Ergebnisse von über 200 Probanden bestätigen die vorhergesagten QoS-QoE-Charakteristiken der sechs untersuchten Dienste als kontinuierlich-elastisch bzw. sprunghaft-fest. Dienstspezifisch lässt sich jeweils von einem angestrebten Grad der Nutzerzufriedenheit auf die notwendigen Werte der QoS-Netzparameter schließen, woraus sich ein QoS-QoE-Zufriedenheitskorridor zwischen einem unteren und oberen Schwellwert ergibt. Teilweise sind dabei QoS-unabhängige Faktoren, z. B. die Art der Präsentation der Stimuli in der App auf dem Endgerät, als ebenso relevant zu erkennen wie die QoS-Netzparameter selbst. / The thesis is centered on the relationship of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for mobile Internet services. While QoS covers the technical view on the telecommunications network characterized by performance-related parameter values (e.g. throughput and latency), QoE refers to the assessment of the user experience (e.g. satisfaction and acceptability) in the use of the services. In the thesis QoS and QoE are revealed as highly complex and related concepts in theoretical contemplation. Integrating both concepts requires a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary approach between engineering and human sciences to consider both - technological aspects of the network as well the human user. The designed multilayered model appropriately integrates the technical network view as well as the user's perspective by considering all relevant factors of influence and all internal relationships between QoS and QoE. The conducted extensive psychophysical laboratory experiment with real users, devices and services quantifies the relationship between specific QoS values and specific QoE values. A testbed developed for network emulation allows combining typical mobile network situations with typical usage situations in a controlled and focused manner. The three elaborated principles to test for relevance, suitability and efficiency take into account the special features of the test setup and test design. Test results gained from more than 200 volunteers confirm the predicted QoS-QoE-characteristics of the six tested mobile services to be either elastic or non-elastic. It is possible to conclude from the desired degree of user satisfaction on the necessary values of the QoS network parameters, which results in a QoS-QoE-corridor between lower and upper threshold values. Findings prove that QoS-independent factors, e.g. the type of presentation of the stimuli in the app on the user’s device, can be as relevant for QoE as the evaluated QoS network parameters themselves.

Le Cloud Computing est de plus en plus reconnu comme une nouvelle façon d'utiliser, à la demande, les services de calcul, de stockage et de réseau d'une manière transparente et efficace. Dans cette thèse, nous abordons le problème d'ordonnancement de workflows sur les infrastructures distribuées hétérogènes du Cloud Computing. Les approches d'ordonnancement de workflows existantes dans le Cloud se concentrent principalement sur l'optimisation biobjectif du makespan et du coût. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons des algorithmes d'ordonnancement de workflows basés sur des métaheuristiques. Nos algorithmes sont capables de gérer plus de deux métriques de QoS (Quality of Service), notamment, le makespan, le coût, la fiabilité, la disponibilité et l'énergie dans le cas de ressources physiques. En outre, ils traitent plusieurs contraintes selon les exigences spécifiées dans le SLA (Service Level Agreement). Nos algorithmes ont été évalués par simulation en utilisant (1) comme applications: des workflows synthétiques et des workflows scientifiques issues du monde réel ayant des structures différentes; (2) et comme ressources Cloud: les caractéristiques des services de Amazon EC2. Les résultats obtenus montrent l'efficacité de nos algorithmes pour le traitement de plusieurs QoS. Nos algorithmes génèrent une ou plusieurs solutions dont certaines surpassent la solution de l'heuristique HEFT sur toutes les QoS considérées, y compris le makespan pour lequel HEFT est censé donner de bons résultats. / Cloud Computing is increasingly recognized as a new way to use on-demand, computing, storage and network services in a transparent and efficient way. In this thesis, we address the problem of workflows scheduling on distributed heterogeneous infrastructure of Cloud Computing. The existing workflows scheduling approaches mainly focus on the bi-objective optimization of the makespan and the cost. In this thesis, we propose news workflows scheduling algorithms based on metaheuristics. Our algorithms are able to handle more than two QoS (Quality of Service) metrics, namely, makespan, cost, reliability, availability and energy in the case of physical resources. In addition, they address several constraints according to the specified requirements in the SLA (Service Level Agreement). Our algorithms have been evaluated by simulations. We used (1) synthetic workflows and real world scientific workflows having different structures, for our applications; and (2) the features of Amazon EC2 services for our Cloud. The obtained results show the effectiveness of our algorithms when dealing multiple QoS metrics. Our algorithms produce one or more solutions which some of them outperform the solution produced by HEFT heuristic over all the QoS considered, including the makespan for which HEFT is supposed to give good results.

Avanços nas tecnologias de comunicação e processamento de sinais além de mudar a forma de como realizar negócios em todo o mundo, têm motivado o surgimento de serviços e aplicações multimídia na Internet de forma crescente. Como conseqüência, é possível conceber, desenvolver, implantar e operar serviços de distribuição de vídeo digital na Internet, tanto na abordagem sob-demanda quanto ao vivo. Com o aumento das aplicações multimídia na rede, torna-se cada vez mais complexo e necessário definir um modelo eficiente que possa realizar o gerenciamento efetivo e integrado de todos os elementos e serviços que compõe um sistema computacional. Pensando assim, este trabalho propõe uma arquitetura de gerenciamento baseado em políticas aplicada à distribuição de conteúdo multimídia com controle de QoS (Quality of Service) em redes de sobreposição (overlay). A arquitetura é baseada nos padrões de gerenciamento por políticas definida pela IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) que, através de informações contextuais (rede e clientes) administra os serviços disponíveis no sistema. Faz uso dos requisitos de QoS providos pela rede de distribuição e os compara com os requisitos mínimos exigidos pelos perfis das aplicações previamente mapeados em regras de políticas. Dessa forma é possível controlar e administrar os elementos e serviços do sistema, afim de melhor distribuir recursos aos usuários deste sistema. / Advances in communication technologies and signal processing have not only changed the way business is conducted around the world, but have also driven the development of services and multimedia applications on the Internet. As a result, it is possible to design, develop, deploy and operate services for digital video distribution on the Internet, both according to an on-demand approach and live. Because of the increase in multimedia applications on the network, it has become increasingly more complex and necessary to define an efficient architecture that can achieve the effective and integrated management of all the elements and services that compose a computer system. With this in mind, this study proposes developing a robust and efficient architecture based on IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) policy management standards applied to multimedia distribution content with QoS (Quality of Service) control in Overlay Networks. This architecture makes use of QoS requirements provided by the distribution network and compares them to the minimum requirements demanded by each type of application previously mapped in the policy rules. This system makes it possible to control and manage system information and services and also to distribute resources to system users better.

Avanços nas tecnologias de comunicação e processamento de sinais além de mudar a forma de como realizar negócios em todo o mundo, têm motivado o surgimento de serviços e aplicações multimídia na Internet de forma crescente. Como conseqüência, é possível conceber, desenvolver, implantar e operar serviços de distribuição de vídeo digital na Internet, tanto na abordagem sob-demanda quanto ao vivo. Com o aumento das aplicações multimídia na rede, torna-se cada vez mais complexo e necessário definir um modelo eficiente que possa realizar o gerenciamento efetivo e integrado de todos os elementos e serviços que compõe um sistema computacional. Pensando assim, este trabalho propõe uma arquitetura de gerenciamento baseado em políticas aplicada à distribuição de conteúdo multimídia com controle de QoS (Quality of Service) em redes de sobreposição (overlay). A arquitetura é baseada nos padrões de gerenciamento por políticas definida pela IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) que, através de informações contextuais (rede e clientes) administra os serviços disponíveis no sistema. Faz uso dos requisitos de QoS providos pela rede de distribuição e os compara com os requisitos mínimos exigidos pelos perfis das aplicações previamente mapeados em regras de políticas. Dessa forma é possível controlar e administrar os elementos e serviços do sistema, afim de melhor distribuir recursos aos usuários deste sistema. / Advances in communication technologies and signal processing have not only changed the way business is conducted around the world, but have also driven the development of services and multimedia applications on the Internet. As a result, it is possible to design, develop, deploy and operate services for digital video distribution on the Internet, both according to an on-demand approach and live. Because of the increase in multimedia applications on the network, it has become increasingly more complex and necessary to define an efficient architecture that can achieve the effective and integrated management of all the elements and services that compose a computer system. With this in mind, this study proposes developing a robust and efficient architecture based on IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) policy management standards applied to multimedia distribution content with QoS (Quality of Service) control in Overlay Networks. This architecture makes use of QoS requirements provided by the distribution network and compares them to the minimum requirements demanded by each type of application previously mapped in the policy rules. This system makes it possible to control and manage system information and services and also to distribute resources to system users better.

<p>With the advance in computer and network technologies, multimedia systems and Internet applications are becoming more popular. As broadband network is prevailing, more clients are able to watch streaming videos or to play multimedia data over the Internet in real-time. Consequently, there is an increasing demand in the Internet for streaming video systems. As the run-time environment of such applications tends to be dynamic, it is imperative to handle transient overloads effectively. The goal of this work is to develop an algorithm that would provide a robust and controlled behavior of the video system so that important data is delivered on time to the video clients. In order to address this problem, we propose a QoS-sensitive approach that is using the technique of imprecise computation and is based on the principle of tuning. Our algorithm is aimed to provide the best possible QoS to the clients in the current available network capacity. As an environment to work with we have used a video system called QMPEGv2. A set of experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. Through experiments, we show that the system can adapt to dynamic changes in network conditions and provide almost always the best possible QoS to its clients. Guaranteeing a certain minimal QoS level to all clients is only possible when, in run time, an admission controller adjusts the number of clients admitted tothe system according to the capacity of the network and video servers.</p>

Bakalauro baigiamajame darbe analizuojamas įmonės APB „Apranga“ darbuotojų požiūris į klientų aptarnavimo kokybę kaip į paslaugos kokybės įvertinimo būdą. Teorinėje darbo dalyje pateikiama paslaugos samprata bei paslaugų kokybės vertinimo modeliai, paremti Ch.Gronroos (1990) požiūriu, kad paslaugų kokybė gali būti vertinama dviem aspektais - techniniu bei funkciniu kokybės patyrimu. Pateikiama klientų aptarnavimo samprata bei trumpai pristatomas klientų aptarnavimo standartas kaip priemonė aptarnavimo kokybei valdyti ir darbuotojų profesionalumui vertinti. Empirinėje darbo dalyje remiantis įmonės APB „Apranga“ Šiauliuose darbuotojų įsivertinimu atlikta požiūrio į klientų aptarnavimo kokybę analizė, leidžianti identifikuoti klientų aptarnavimo problemas ir pateikti rekomendacijas įmonei klientų aptarnavimui gerinti. / The final bachelor thesis covers the analysis of APB „Apranga“employees‘opinion towards the quality of customer service as an evaluation method of service quality. The theoretical part presents the conception of service and available methods for service quality evaluation based on Ch.Gronroos (1990) position, which states that service quality might be evaluated in terms of two aspects – technical and functional quality experience. The work introduces the conception of customer service as well as a customer service standard as a tool to manage the service quality and evaluate the employees’ competence. The analysis regarding the opinion towards the quality of customer service was performed in the empirical part of thesis in accordance to the employees’ self-evaluation in APB „Apranga”, city of Šiauliai. This analysis enables to identify the problems of customer service and provide the recommendations on purpose to increase the quality of customer service in APB „Apranga”, city of Šiauliai.

With the advance in computer and network technologies, multimedia systems and Internet applications are becoming more popular. As broadband network is prevailing, more clients are able to watch streaming videos or to play multimedia data over the Internet in real-time. Consequently, there is an increasing demand in the Internet for streaming video systems. As the run-time environment of such applications tends to be dynamic, it is imperative to handle transient overloads effectively. The goal of this work is to develop an algorithm that would provide a robust and controlled behavior of the video system so that important data is delivered on time to the video clients. In order to address this problem, we propose a QoS-sensitive approach that is using the technique of imprecise computation and is based on the principle of tuning. Our algorithm is aimed to provide the best possible QoS to the clients in the current available network capacity. As an environment to work with we have used a video system called QMPEGv2. A set of experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. Through experiments, we show that the system can adapt to dynamic changes in network conditions and provide almost always the best possible QoS to its clients. Guaranteeing a certain minimal QoS level to all clients is only possible when, in run time, an admission controller adjusts the number of clients admitted tothe system according to the capacity of the network and video servers.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / In the past few years, an evolution has been occurring in test range network topologies. With the proliferation of IP-based networks at the desktop, range officers are seeking ways to extend IP-based networks to the test range, to derive the cost and operational benefits offered with IP technology. This transition is not without its own set of problems. The operational transition from the traditional, ATM-based ranges to IP-based ranges must be addressed. In many cases, it is desired to maintain the ATM range, and add IP capabilities as time and budget permits. The net result is that frequently a mixed protocol network emerges. Terawave Communications has been developing telemetry transport solutions for both ATM and IP-based networks, along with technology to enable convergence of additional services such as video, voice, and data across test ranges. Terawave has developed a solution for various network topologies from ATM-only and IP-only to mixed protocol implementations, which supports end-to-end interworking of telemetry, video, and additional services over mixed protocol networks. In this paper, Terawave will detail the implementation decisions made in the course of application development, and share a framework for enabling seamless intra- and inter- range communication of telemetry and mixed services.

ITC/USA 2008 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fourth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 27-30, 2008 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / The integrated Network Enhanced Telemetry effort (iNET) was launched to create a telemetry network that will enhance the traditional point-to-point telemetry link from test articles (TAs) to ground stations (GS). Two of the critical needs identified by the Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP) are, "the need to be able to provide reliable coverage in potentially high capacity environments, even in Over-The-Horizon (OTH) settings", and "the need to make more efficient use of spectrum resources through dynamic sharing of said resources, based on instantaneous demand thereof". Research conducted at Morgan State University (MSU) has focused on providing solutions for both critical problems. The Mixed Network architecture developed by MSU has shown that a hybrid network can be used to provide coverage for TAs that are beyond the coverage area of the GS. The mixed network uses clustering techniques to partition the aggregate network into clusters or sub-networks based on properties of each TA, which currently include signal strengths, and location. The paper starts with a detailed analysis of two parameters that affect the performance of each sub-network: contention between the TAs in the mobile ad-hoc network, and queuing at the Gateway TAs that serve as the link between the mobile ad-hoc and the Cellular networks. Contention and queuing will be used to evaluate two performance (distance) measures for each sub-network: throughput and delay. We define a new distance measure known as "power", which is equal to the ratio of throughput over delay, and is used as a measure of performance of the mixed network for Quality of Service (QOS). This paper describes the analytical foundation used to prove that the "power" performance measure is an excellent tool for optimizing the clustering of a mixed network to provide QOS.