QOS metrics tool using management by delegation

The Internet has become a widespread technology for providing public data, voice, video and multimedia services internationally. This paper presents a measurement methodology for evaluating quality of Internet service given by an ISP (Internet Service Provider), including a framework for defining the context and parameters for such measurement. The originality of this methodology lies principally in its reliance on sampling techniques and on its use of distributed applications to carry out measurement. The nature of the Internet places particular constraints on the amount and nature of data that can be collected, making statistical sampling necessary to answer certain types of questions. This paper addresses a number of methodological issues that arise when applying sampling techniques to the problem of measuring Internet service quality. This methodology is currently being implemented and tested by a major Canadian ISP.