Quality-of-Experience for Multimedia

Introduction

In recent years, we have been witnessing a rapid development of interconnecting applications. In addition to those that contributed to the popularity of the early Internet (e-mail, file transfer, etc.), there are now applications that rely on more sensitive network data. They include sound applications (voice, music programs, etc.), image applications (television programs, videoconferencing, video on demand, etc.) and urgent information applications (market orders). Based on a convergence of network technologies, the next-generation network (NGN) is being deployed to carry high-quality video and voice data. However, it is important for the operators and providers not to lose sight of the reason behind this new infrastructure: to provide network service that users want to use. Realising this idea means assuring positive experience for end users. The operators always try to deliver network services in the most cost and resource efficient manner with ensured user perception. Therefore, service providers are switching their focus from traditional Quality of Service (QoS) to user satisfaction, which is the overall success of a network from the user’s perspective. According to a well-known expression, “The only way to know how customers see your business is to look at it through their eyes”. In fact, the convergence of network technologies has been driven by the converging needs of end users. The perceived end-to-end quality becomes one of the main requirements of users ...