User-perceived performance of Web-browsing and interactive data in HFC cable access networks

Using analysis and simulation, we study the performance of Web-browsing and interactive data applications as perceived by the users of shared packet access networks. We use end-to-end page delays to characterise the user experience, and introduce a measure called equivalent circuit rate (ECR). The ECR for a user of a shared packet access network is the dedicated access circuit bit rate required to achieve the same user experience. Our analysis uses a simple closed queueing network model. The theoretical results agree well with simulations of TCP-based Web browsing workloads sharing an HFC cable data channel. We show that the mean page delay, ECR, and the number of users that can be supported are described using simple parameters that scale very well for different user and network rates. Our work also provides an effective comparison of shared and dedicated access at the application level.