The end user quality of experience (QoE) of content delivered over a radio network is (mainly) influenced by the radio parameters in the radio access net‐work. This paper will present a QoE model for video delivered over a radio network (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) adaptive streaming (HAS). The model is based on experiments performed in the context of the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) project P‐SERQU (Project Service Quality Definition and Measurement). In the first phase, a set of representative HAS profiles were selected based on a lab experiment where scenarios with typical radio impairments (fading, signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio, round trip time and competing traffic) were investigated in a test network. Based on these HAS profiles, video files were prepared by concatenating chunks of the corresponding video quality. In a second phase, these video files were downloaded, viewed, and rated by a large number of volunteers. Based on these user scores a mean opinion score (MOS) was determined for each of the video files, and hence, the HAS profiles. Several QoE models that predict the MOS from the HAS profile have been analyzed. Using the preferred QoE model, a range of MOS values can be obtained for each set of initial radio impairments. It is argued that a QoE model based on the radio parameters is necessarily less accurate than a QoE model based on HAS profiles and an indication is given of how much the performance of the former is less than the latter. © 2014 Alcatel‐Lucent.

This article gives an overview of the evolution in the mobile communications world. The uptake of 2G technologies has been tremendous, even though several systems exist that are not interoperable. 3G will bring some convergence, but will not achieve the goal of a single global technology. At the network level, IP is becoming more important. In hot spot environments, WLAN is bringing a complementary technology toward cellular.

No abstract

Driven mainly by its adoption as a new media distribution platform for content providers and its ubiquitous availability for the end user's media production and consumption, the Internet is rapidly reshaping. In particular, the stakeholders in the content distribution market are considering exploiting content delivery networks (CDNs) Everywhere solution, telcos and multiple systems operators (MSOs) including AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast can now provide their customers with a whole new experience as they can now consume the content (hosted by the network provider) on fixed or mobile devices other than the TV set alone. As a consequence, these network providers can reach more customers with their content assets. Success with mobile TV offers also may be driven by the strong growth of video-enabled smartphones: 275 million video-enabled smartphones shipped in 2010 [14].At the same time, a variety of Internet video publishers, such as Netflix*, Hulu*, BBC iPlayer*, and also IntroductionThe Internet video world is undergoing a significant transformation as a wider set of content is offered for consumption over a wider set of devices.For video services offered by network providers, the following trends can be observed. Initially, many network providers deployed Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services in a walled garden environment. Apart from being a replacement for analog television (TV) distribution, IPTV also offers interactive and personalized services, including video on demand, network-based personal video recording, and time shift Apple TV* and Google TV*, have launched new video services. They are providing their content to their end users with little involvement of the network provider.Hybrid models also exist where a telco may offer a combination of digital TV and Internet video services, as described in [6]. In such a scenario, digital TV network providers will need to expand their offer by also offering access to Internet video. They have opportunities in that they can offer better quality of experience (QoE), multiscreen differentiators, have a customer base (and billing relationship), and can position themselves as the content aggregator of choice (simplicity to end user).The network provider (telco or MSO) can play a key role in both the content delivery and content discovery. As far as delivery is concerned, it is well known that content distribution networks (CDNs) can reduce the load on the Internet and within the network provider's network [7,15,16]. With respect to discovery, customers need help in finding content that interests them, especially as the amount of available content increases. Therefore, recommender systems are often integrated with video offerings to help the end user [1,3,9,13]. The use of recommenders for the purpose of caching has also been discussed in [10]. Since the network provider has a comprehensive view of the end user's content consumption, he is (potentially) well placed to recommend content. This paper combines both key roles of content discovery and content delivery...

This paper presents several aspects, from technologies to business models, of content recommendation for video related solutions that range from IP television (IPTV), including linear programming television (LPTV) and videoon-demand (VoD), to online video. Video content recommendation is becoming increasingly important because of the continuously increasing amount of video content available to end users. After considering some end user requirements, an analysis is provided of the most important content recommendation technologies as described in literature and implemented by many start-ups. The paper also deals with evaluation criteria for a content recommender system related to user expectations, support of different scenarios (e.g., new content, new users), and marketing and business requirements. We describe the overall architecture into which the content recommendation functionality fits, as well as its interfaces with other network components, external databases, social networks, and applications.Finally, we discuss a dedicated network provider play, the business opportunities, and several business models for content recommendation. © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent. very exciting, the overwhelming choice in content available on broadcast TV, VoD, and the Internet is also leading to much irritation and frustration of the end user, since it is becoming increasingly hard to pick out that one movie, program, or video clip best suited to his mood, environment, and interest at that moment. It demands quite some patience, perseverance, and time from the end user to sift the programming guide, click through all channels, or browse the complete VoD catalog in order to find something of interest to watch. Because of this, people tend to stick IntroductionThe expansion of the Internet and the advent of digital broadcasting have led to an ever-increasing range of content at the fingertips of the end user. Video-on-demand (VoD) libraries are approaching 20,000 titles per aggregator with substantial further growth expected; the number of online aggregators is increasing continuously; millions of Internet video clips are accessible on television (TV); and the number of linear programming television (LPTV) channels is increasing constantly, along with content on catchup TV (recordings of LPTV). Although this sounds to what they are used to watching, and the promise of having everything you like at your fingertips is still only a promise.This dilemma not only short-circuits the end user experience, but sets the stage for dissatisfaction and the risk that an end user will turn his back on the service as well as the content provider. An NDS Group survey of more than 1,000 cable customers in the United States (U.S.) found that LPTV program recommendations are one of the top applications they desire. Keeping in mind that millions of people in the U.S. are spending 150 hours per month in front of their TV sets [19], improving the end user experience with content discovery can lead to a win-win-win situation for the end user, service prov...