Mamadou Sidibé

A_PSQA: Efficient real-time video streaming QoE tool in a future media internet context

Quality of Experience (QoE) is the key criteria for evaluating the Media Services. Unlike objective Quality of Service (QoS) metrics, QoE is more accurate to reflect the user experience as it considers human visual system and its complex behavior towards distortions in the displayed video sequence. In this paper, we present a new QoE tool solution, named ALICANTE Pseudo Subjective Quality Assessment (A_PSQA). It relies on a No-Reference QoE measuring approach, hybrid between subjective and objective methods fully functional in Future Media Internet context. To validate this approach, we deployed a video streaming platform, and considered different video sequences having different characteristics (low/high motion, quality, etc.). We then compared the results of A_PSQA with two Full-References methods (SSIM and PSNR) and two No-References approaches. Obtained results demonstrate that A_PSQA shows a higher correlation with subjective quality ratings (MOS) than all others methods.

Adaptive IPTV services based on a novel IP Multimedia Subsystem

Heterogeneous communication devices are emerging and changing the way of communication. Innovative multimedia applications are now accessible through these embedded systems. The 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) provides a basic architecture framework for the Next Generation Network (NGN) supporting the convergence platform for service provisioning in heterogeneous networks. ETSI TISPAN standardization effort focuses on delivering IPTV services on such platform. Nevertheless, IPTV on IMS standardization suffers from a lack of efficient user-centric network management mechanisms as the end-user may consume IPTV service from different access networks, on different mobile devices, at anytime. User’s Perceived Quality of Service (PQoS) or Quality of Experience (QoE) of IPTV service may also suffer from wireless access network impairments. This paper introduces new functionalities in IPTV over IMS architecture which optimize satisfaction of the end-user and resource utilization of the operator’s networks. A context-sensitive User Profile (UP) model is used to deliver IPTV streams adapted to the user’s environment. In order to optimize the operator network usage, the impact of spatiotemporal dynamics of the video content on the deduced perceptual quality is considered. A Multimedia Content Management System (MCMS) is proposed to perform dynamic cross-layer adaptation of the IPTV stream based on PQoS measurements at the end-user side.

Cross-layer monitoring in IPTV networks

In a time when media content, including user-generated, is flooding the Internet, and WebTV services are becoming more and more attractive and competitive, “fenced wall” IPTV operators need to come up with clear benefits, focusing on high content quality and guaranteed QoS/QoE. Quality guarantees can be achieved only via an end-to-end network and service management architecture, supported by an efficient monitoring system. This article discusses cross-layer IPTV service and network monitoring approaches, presenting overall aims and challenges, metrics to be monitored, and measurement strategies according to point of observation (in-network or client-side monitoring). Finally, it presents the monitoring system developed within the ALICANTE research project as an example of a complete end-to-end cross-layer monitoring framework for media services.

A_PSQA: PESQ-like non-intrusive tool for QoE prediction in VoIP services

Perceived speech quality, or Quality of Experience (QoE), is the key criteria for evaluating VoIP service. Most of the existing solutions are intrusive, in a sense where they require both the original and the transmitted audio sequences. These solutions give good estimation of the QoE, but they cannot be used in real-time. In fact, Service Provider and Network Provider are highly interested on automatic QoE estimation tool (without intrusion) in order to monitor and control the perceived quality of their VoIP service. In this paper, we present a new perceived speech quality estimation tool, named ALICANTE1 Pseudo Subjective Quality Assessment (A_PSQA) for two widely VoIP codecs, iLBC and Speex. A_PSQA is a non-intrusive method, which relies on Random Neural Network (RNN) approach to learn the nonlinear relation between network parameters and the perceived user QoE. Furthermore, to avoid costly and time-consuming subjective tests, we used a well-known intrusive method ITU-Ts Perceptual Evaluation Quality (PESQ) to estimate the MOS. Obtained results show that A_PSQA is able to estimate the MOS like PESQ, while being non-intrusive. Besides, A_PSQAs results are compared with two non-intrusive (IQX and E-Model) methods, where A_PSQA shows the highest correlation with PESQ estimation than all others methods.

A novel monitoring architecture for media services adaptation based on network QoS to perceived QoS mapping

One of the future visions of multimedia networking is the provision of multimedia content at a variety of quality and price levels. Of the many approaches to this issue, one of the most predominant techniques is the concept of Perceived Quality of Service (PQoS), which extends the traditional engineering-based QoS concept to the perceptual satisfaction that the user receives from the reception of multimedia content. In this context, PQoS monitoring is becoming crucial to media service providers (SPs) for providing not only quantified PQoS-based services, but also service assurance based on multimedia content adaptation across heterogeneous networks. This work proposes a novel cross-layer monitoring architecture that utilizes a new Network QoS (NQoS) to PQoS mapping framework at the application level. The resulting QoS monitoring should allow the content delivery system to take sophisticated actions for real time media content adaptation, and aims to provide perceived service performance verification with respect to the QoS guarantees that have been specified in contractual agreements between providers and end-users. A subsequent performance evaluation of the proposed model conducted using a real test-bed environment demonstrates both the accuracy and feasibility of the network level measurements, the NQoS to PQoS mapping and the overall feasibility of the proposed end-to-end monitoring solution.

QoS monitoring for end-to-end heterogeneous networks configurations management

The paper is presenting a novel service-oriented monitoring framework allowing service performance verification, with respect to the QoS guarantees specified in contractual agreements between providers and users. This is achieved not only by monitoring services inside wired and wireless access/core networks but also at the customer side. Moreover, the presented system provides monitoring information to Service Providers related to the quantified QoS-based services and service assurance as well as to Network Providers for managing network resources.

Service Monitoring System for Dynamic Service Adaptation in Multi-domain and Heterogeneous Networks

Access to multimedia services over heterogeneous networks and terminals is of increasing market interest, while providing end-to-end quality of service (QoS) guarantees in multi-domain environment is still a challenge. This paper describes a service oriented monitoring system designed for use in multi-domain heterogeneous networking environment for the purpose of supporting cross-network audiovisual service offering. The presented monitoring system is that developed in the IST ENTHRONE II project for providing monitoring information to (1) service providers for providing quantified QoS-based services and its dynamic adaptation; (2) network operators for making provisioning decisions and allowing dynamic resource allocation for optimizing the usage of network resources.

An Integrated Management Supervisor for End-to-End Management of Heterogeneous Contents, Networks, and Terminals enabling Quality of Service

End-to-end support for Quality of Service (QoS) has been broadly discussed in the literature. Many technologies have been proposed, each focusing on specific aspects for providing QoS guarantees to the end user. However, the integrated management of the end-to-end chain preserving QoS in heterogeneous environments is still a significant issue and insufficiently addressed to date. In this paper we propose an integrated management supervisor that takes into account the requirements from all stakeholders along the multimedia content delivery chain and provides an end-to-end management solution enabling QoS to the end user. This architecture and the subsystems that can be distributed along the end-to-end chain are detailed in this paper.

QoS monitoring framework for end-to-end service management in wired and wireless networks

The explosive increasing amount of multimedia content to be offered in the Internet and the heterogeneity of the underlying networking technologies demand the provision of new QoS-enabled mechanisms and architecture to efficiently control, manage and monitor the networks. This paper first briefly introduces a complex system for multimedia content generation, transport and consumption, over heterogeneous network environment. This is developed in ENTHRONE I and II projects, where a central concept and subsystem is the ENTHRONE integrated management supervisor (EIMS). Then, the focus of the paper is to present a novel service oriented monitoring framework as an essential part of the EIMS. The proposed QoS monitoring system aims at providing service performance verification with respect to the QoS guarantees specified in contractual agreements between providers and users. This is achieved by not only monitoring services inside wired and wireless access/core networks but also at the customer side. The presented system also provides monitoring information to service providers for providing quantified QoS-based services and service assurance and to network providers for managing network resources.

Adapted IPTV service within novel IMS architecture

The paper introduces a novel architecture to be used in IMS (IP Multimedia Sub-system) context. Thanks to the use of a MCMS (Multimedia Content Management System) along with interoperable components, the proposed solution enables an efficient adaptation of services according to the Perceived Quality of Service degradation at the end-user side.