Migration toward DiffServ-enabled broadband access networks

Abstract

In this paper, we propose several candidate models to support DiffServ QoS for multimedia applications in broadband access network environments, and discuss about smooth migration path from current best-effort access networks to DiffServ-enabled ones. Since broadband access networks are already widely deployed in the world, there are several important consideration factors when supporting DiffServ in broadband access networks. They are backward compatibility with DiffServ-unaware legacy systems, consistency with existing pricing infrastructure, effective QoS support for various applications, and so on. The DiffServ models proposed in this paper are divided into static and dynamic models. The static DiffServ models include Flat DiffServ providing per-subscriber DiffServ QoS and Structured DiffServ providing both per-service and per-subscriber DiffServ QoS. The dynamic DiffServ models include Direct DiffServ for peer to peer multimedia applications and Indirect DiffServ for applications of service providers. Based on the analysis of the pros and cons of the proposed models and the characteristics of current broadband access networks, smooth migration path toward QoS-enabled broadband access networks is also discussed. © 2008 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.