Monitoring and response for real-time voice messages transmitted using wi-fi within net-centric enterprise systems

Real-time voice communications capabilities over wireless medium, using the Wi-Fi standard IEEE 802.11, have become a potential bottleneck in emerging net-centric enterprise systems used by the DoD and Federal Government agencies. Depending on the priority and precedence of a particular message, mission success may depend on achieving optimal performance with respect to transmission, reception, and interpretation of the message. This paper explores successful interpretation of Wi-Fi messages from the end user perspective as defined through the metric Quality of Experience (QoE). QoE represents the perception of quality experienced by end users of a real-time system. The specific challenge examined herein is that of communicating real-time events using Wi-Fi running within net-centric enterprise systems. In this setting, time-sensitive events may require immediate problem determination and resolution. The paper also introduces a new approach for aggregating Wi-Fi messages across the enterprise, thereby enabling timely and effective interpretation and response to real-time events. Results for a disaster response scenario are presented that combine analysis and simulation measurements from a simulation running on the UK national supercomputing service, HECToR. The paper concludes by highlighting key benefits to the service provider's business from using this approach, such as supporting real-time information sharing over Wi-Fi within net-centric enterprise systems. This paper also provides recommendations for configuration of Wi-Fi QoS mechanisms to support priority and precedence in order to ensure timely response and mission critical communications from local to global operation centers.