The classical transfer service offered by Internet is a point-to-point best effort service. For real-time traffic (e.g.Internet telephony, multimedia conferencing) does not seem suitable. The network should provide some adequate services with level of predictability and control beyond the current IP best effort service. Two framework QoS solutions were proposed by IETF: resource reservation (Integrated Services - IntServ) or service classification (Differentiated Services - Diffserv). QoS signaling mechanisms were developed inside these frameworks.
QoS signaling mechanisms defines all algorithms and parameters used by signaling systems in order to provide QoS between network nodes or applications - network nodes. To satisfy a QoS request each node of the network is necessary to intercept signaling messages and to process them. QoS signaling mechanisms improve the tradeoff between quality of guarantee and efficiency of the network. They help to provide differentiated delivery services for individual flows or aggregates, network provisioning, admission control, etc. Dynamic QoS Management could be provided using QoS signaling mechanisms.
My Internet QoS Signaling Protocols presentation.
Last modified 1 August 2000