Dynamic bandwidth allocation for multiple network connections: improving user QoE and network usage of YouTube in mobile broadband

Users expect a high level of application quality without annoying interruptions or delays when using applications in a communication network. This is particularly important in mobile environments where varying channel conditions, user mobility, and interference lead to a variation of the available network resources which ultimately affects application quality. A flexible selection of one or more access technologies, however, allows to overcome resource limitations of one specific access technology. An over-the-top (OTT) virtual access network (VAN) approach allows the aggregation of multiple wireless networks into a single IP pipe to provide users more bandwidth. To minimize energy consumption and radio resource utilization, an application-tailored usage of the access technologies as well as appropriate resource scheduling mechanisms in case of concurrent usage are required. In this paper, we perform a scenario-based investigation of the performance of an OTT VAN architecture. As scenario we choose a user watching a YouTube video clip, while a Wi-Fi and a cellular network are available. We evaluate the user perceived quality, cellular usage, and device power consumption based on testbed measurements.