An integrated approach to control the quality level of multi-user sessions.

A combined control of multimedia quality and network resource allocation is a core requirement for the deployment of communication services shared by multiple users (multi-user). The challenge resides in achieving a high number of satisfied users while saving the scarce network resources. This situation occurs due to the dynamic changes in resource demands, the existence of links with different capacities and the use of distinct QoS models along a session path. This paper proposes the Quality of Service Control for Multi-user Sessions (QUALITI) scheme to maintain multi-user sessions with acceptable QoS levels over heterogeneous networks, while optimizing the usage of network resources. QUALITI integrates QoS mapping and adaptation with network resource allocation along end-to-end session paths. QUALITI was evaluated through simulations that analyzed the convergence time, usage of network resources, throughput and one-way delay.