Quality-of-Service Planner with Network Traffic Forecasting

The Air Force seeks to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its multimedia information communication network infrastructure, which supports multiple or adaptive QoS (Quality of Service) levels for multimedia data networking and information systemapplications. This requires a network traffic forecasting system that allows network data traffic and resources loads to be predicted into the near future, so that agile multimedia information network system applications can adapt their routing andbandwidth needs to optimize available network resources. To address this need, BCI proposes a novel Traffic Forecasting Assisted QoS Planner (TAQ) technology that builds upon a mature set of standards for implementing service guarantees in data networks.The dynamic TAQ system provides constantly updated forecasts of data traffic and server loads to any application that needs this information. The TAQ system additionally provides a means to submit bandwidth reservation requests for those applications thatneed assured service guarantees for data delivery. The overall goal of this project is to demonstrate the performance and potential of the proposed TAQ technology through a laboratory demonstration. In addition to the Air Force's agile multimediainformation network system applications, the proposed technology is also applicable to many commercial applications that can benefit from rapid up-to-date notifications of network congestion points. Potential applications include, but are not limited to,voice over IP, video conferencing, broadcast and multicast video distribution, stock trading systems, sales force automation and field technician dispatch systems.