A-Serv: a novel architecture providing scalable quality of service [Internet applications]

QoS architectures define how routers process packets to ensure that QoS service guarantees are enforced. Previous QoS architectures such as integrated services (IntServ), differentiated services (DiffServ), and dynamic packet state (DPS) share one common property that the packet structure and the function of the routers are closely connected. We propose to decouple the connection between packet structure and router functions. The packets should carry as much information as possible, while the routers should process the packets as detailed as possible until the load prohibits. We call such novel QoS architecture adaptive services (A-Serv). A-Serv utilizes a load adaptive router to provide QoS to data flows, while the treatment of each data flow is not predefined but based on the load of the router. A-Serv overcomes the scalability problem of IntServ, provides better service guarantees to individual data flows than DiffServ and can be deployed gradually. Our simulation results show that compared to the DiffServ architecture, A-Serv can provide differentiated services to the data flows in the same DiffServ class and provide guaranteed QoS to part of the data flows. Furthermore, A-Serv provides better protection to the data flows than DiffServ when malicious data flows exist.