Toward standardized internet speed measurements for end users: current technical constraints

Many years of research have been dedicated toward the definition of sophisticated quality of service (QoS) measurement tools and methods. Nonetheless, the results given to end users by most commonly used online speed measurement tools are still far from being accurate. Among other factors, the reliability of the measurement methods is affected by different static and dynamic constraints of involved network nodes and TCP/IP implementations. The clarification of such uncertainties will help establish the baseline for the definition of any comparable and technically feasible measurement methodology, in terms of measurement periods, number of concurrent connections, and convergence time. This article presents a comprehensive description of the research work and proposes mechanisms, aiming to obtain a full understanding of cross-layer effects during a speed test targeting end users.