SLA - based QoS pricing in DiffServ networks

TitleSLA - based QoS pricing in DiffServ networks
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsBouras, C, Sevasti, A
JournalComputer Communications Journal, Special Issue, Performance and Control of Next Generation Communications Networks, Edited by F. Huebner and R. D. van der Mei, Elsevier Science, Volume 27, Issue 18
Pagination 1868 - 1880
Date PublishedDecember
Abstract

The availability of high-speed transmission media and networking equipment in contemporary networks, as well as the evolution of
quality-demanding applications has focused research interest on the provision of advanced qualitative services in addition to the traditional
best-effort model of the Internet. A number of alternatives for service differentiation and QoS provisioning have been proposed and
standardized, but in the case of backbone, transport networks the DiffServ architecture has prevailed, due to its scalability and deployment
feasibility. The provisioning of services according to the DiffServ framework has in turn raised the requirements for interdependent,
controlled resource allocation and service pricing, with particular needs for pricing mechanisms that preserve the potential and flexibility of
DiffServ. At the same time, such mechanisms should reflect resource usage, allocate resources efficiently, reimburse costs or maximize
service provision profits and lead customers to requesting services that will maximize their revenue. In this work, after reviewing related
research, the principles that a pricing scheme for DiffServ-based services should follow are presented, stressing the differences form
traditional Internet pricing. Based on these principles, an analytical approach to pricing a particular class of DiffServ-based services and a
methodology for applying this approach in a real network are proposed and evaluated.

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