Statistical Bandwidth Sharing in End-to-End Connectivity Management over Bandwidth-provisioned Networks

The paper describes a policy-based model for cost-effective ´data connectivity´ provisioning between session-level end-points. The connectivity provider (SP) may employ an architecture for end-to-end QoS control between data aggregation points. It involves: (i) maintaining multiple diffserv-type connections between end-points with parameterizable QoS differentiation between them, and (ii) admission control at end-points with intserv-type bandwidth management over connections, (ii) aggregates data flows with closely-similar QoS needs over a single end-to-end connection, (i) apportions the available infrastructure bandwidth between various end-to-end connections that carry (aggregated) data flows with distinct QoS levels. Flow aggregation over a connection allows reaping the statistical multiplexing gains in bandwidth, i.e., meets the SP´s revenue incentives. Whereas, connection-level bandwidth allocation allows meeting the QoS needs of data flows, i.e., guarantees the end-user´s utility. The management functions of SP monitor the changes and/or outages in network bandwidth in a dynamic setting, and maps them onto the connectivity costs incurred for Qos control. Our model allows installing policy functions at end-points that can make the connectivity provisioning cost-optimal.