WLAN optimization based on the perceived conversational quality using subjective metrics

Although networks based on IEEE802.11 were originally intended to transport best-effort data traffic, the appearance of IEEE802.11e has brought about the opportunity of supplying real time voice and conversational video communications with strict requirements of quality of service. The success of these services will depend on the quality achieved in the multicell wireless indoor scenarios, dependent on delay, jitter and packet loss rate in the network deployed. This paper analyzes the concept of user-perceived QoS in audio and video conversational services, and a simple method to predict the impact on speech and conversational video performance of packet loss rate has been proposed. Finally, the paper presents a new procedure to optimize a WLAN network oriented to guarantee perceived quality in real time voice and conversational video services.