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Abstract— User experience about the provisioning of a service multiple network level parameter (QoS) that impact overall
over LTE mobile networks has become a crucial aspect for QoE. Thanks to this relationship, given a QoS measurement,
Mobile Network Operators. Monitoring network performances one could predict the expected QoE for a user.
may not be sufficient, because they have to be correlated to the This paper belongs to the research area of the QoE
specific service experienced by the user. In order to do this, it is
management process [14], and in particular on the QoE
important to model network architecture in relation to the
service. For this reason, in this paper, several LTE functional modeling. In this field, the aim is to identify, with specific
models have been proposed, for real time services like VoLTE approaches, the relationship between QoE and QoS about
and Video Streaming with MNO’s CDN and OTT, in which the Internet services deliver through LTE network.
standardized LTE architecture is strictly modeled on the To this aim, the QoE modeling process follows these steps:
service offered to the user. The main contribution of this 1) Implementing functional models of an LTE network for
research relies on the possibility for the MNO to adopt the 4G QoE/QoS assessment, one for each service;
architectural LTE Video Streaming and VoLTE network, 2) Establishing the mathematical interdependency of QoE
based on the respectives functional model, to conduct the and QoS parameters for the Internet real time services
accurate QoE assessment.
under study, by means of specific approach;
Keywords— User experience, LTE, real time services, network
3) On the basis of the two points above, designing and
performance, VoLTE, Video Streaming, CDN, OTT. simulating the LTE functional model QoS/QoE. This
model will be used to calculate QoS parameters value
I. INTRODUCTION based on desired QoE factors.
This paper investigates the 1st point above, and illustrates
The 4th Mobile Generation radio technology, called LTE how to realize a possible challenging and innovative 4G
(Long Term Evolution) [1-5], promises to deliver Internet LTE functional model for the QoE assessment for real time
services like voice call or Internet connections, chat or Internet services, in particular for VoLTE (Voice over LTE)
messaging, and activities in social networks with very high and Video Streaming services. The innovative aspect of the
performances and with the respect of quality. The concept of article is the functional models creations that enrich the
quality takes two forms: QoE (Quality of Experience) [6-8] standardized LTE architecture with extra architectural
and QoS (Quality of Service) [9,10]. Although the two nodes, not standardized but necessary for the Video
terms are defined in many ways, in this paper the QoE Streaming (CDN and OTT) and VoLTE operations. The
relates to the perception of the end-to-end system main contribution of this research is that the MNO could
performance at the service level from the user perspective, adopt the 4G architectural LTE Video Streaming and
and it is an indication of how well the network meets the VoLTE network, based on the respectives functional model,
user’s needs. The QoS relates to the performance at the to conduct the accurate QoE assessment.
network level from the network parameters point of view, The organization of the paper is the following. Section II
such as packet loss, delay, and jitter. To achieve the users presents a description about standardized LTE architecture.
satisfaction of LTE network, Mobile Network Operators Section III describes the LTE architectural model for Video
(MNO) need to define SLA (Service Level Agreement) [11 Streaming service. Section IV is dedicated to the description
- 13] and to do so, MNO must know performances in terms of LTE architectural model for VoLTE service. In section
of quality of standardized LTE network, and be able to V, LTE functional models for the Video Streaming (CDN
establish the existing liaison with the user satisfaction and OTT), and the VoLTE are presented, while conclusions
during the fruition of a service. and future works are drawn in Section VI.
Despite this, the strong relationship between QoE and QoS
isn’t clearly defined by LTE standard: tipically there will be
S1u
presented.
LTE/SAE (Long Term Evolution / System Architecture X2 S11 PCRF
ME
Evolution) 4G cellular network is a standard developed by
S1M
Gx
3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), starting from IP
UE )))))) eNodeB S-GW P-GW
the Release 8, to the last LTE-Advanced. It is the most S1u S5 SGi
Backbone
LTEUu
performing cellular network, in terms of data rates, spectrum
efficiency, better QoS support, lower end-to-end latency, by
Figure 1: LTE architecture
reducing the number of network elements, and support to
multiple radio access technologies. It is the first cellular the information of PCC, necessary to establish a bearer with
network designed to support only Packet-Switched IP the UE.
connectivity between users. It is also designed to provide HSS (Home Subscription Server) is the subscription
seamless interworking with other access technologies, and repository for all permanent user data, and it acts only in the
with different type of end user device, called UE (User Control Plane. The HSS is a database that contains the
Equipment). master copy of subscriber profile [3] [16]. Fig. 1 depicts the
The Access Network, E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial basic configuration.
Radio Access Network), is a network of base stations, called
evolved NodeB (eNodeB), where there is no centralized III. THE VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE
controller, with the intelligence distributed among the ARCHITECTURAL MODEL
eNodeBs [4].
The eNodeB is responsible for the RRM (Radio Resource The Video Streaming service allows viewing audio and
Management), i.e. allocating radio resources and scheduling video content through wired and wireless network. It
traffic according to the QoS. This node has an important includes the E-learning, video conference, Video On-
role in the MM (Mobility Management) procedures. Demand, and in general all the real-time services. Streaming
EPC (Evolved Packet Core) is the core network, and it is refers to a stream of audio/video data transmitted from a
based on IP (Internet Protocol) to transport all the services source to one or more destinations. The Video Streaming
in an all Packet-Switched architecture. This implementation belongs to the category of "multimedia" services,
generates a flat architecture, where there are few network characterized by a series of requirements such as a
nodes, without continuous protocol conversions [5]. minimum demand on the amount of resources, a low delay
The eNodeBs are connected to the EPC via S-GW (Serving and high bandwidth, that once satisfied, it can allow a good
Gateway), that is the local mobility anchor for data bearers QoS perceived by the end user (QoE). Fig. 2 shows the LTE
in case of handover, and interworking with legacy cellular network to provide the video streaming services.
access network. It acts both in the Control Plane and in the In Fig. 2 the information exchange between a UE and a
User Plane, as it tunnels user data traffic to the P-GW Video Server through the LTE network is shown, composed
(Packet Data Network Gateway) [15]. by the E-UTRAN and the EPC.
The P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway) is the edge MNOs can provide the service through its own
node between the EPC and IP Backbone. The P-GW, based infrastructure with CDN (Content Delivery Network)
on the indications given by the PCRF (described in the next technologies to provide a better QoS through the OTT (Over
subsection), allocates the IP address to the UE, when the UE the Top). CDN is an infrastructure [17 - 20] that allows the
requests a PDN connection, establishing the bearer thanks to content delivery optimization, through the replication and
PCEF entity, which implements the indications given by the storage of audio/video contents, by caching them in the
PCRF, described in the following subsection. MNO networks. This means that there will be at most a user
MME (Mobility Management Entity) handles control plane who will access to the video server. Following this first
functions like authentication and security, bearer mobility video request, it will be caching inside the CDN
and connection management. It further concurs to reduce the infrastructure. The subsequent users will get the video
network overhead, holding information about UEs, to ensure content directly from the CDN, with considerable
a service continuity when UEs are in idle state. advantages in terms of speed download, video availability,
The PCRF (Policy and Charging Resource Function) is the low delay and packet loss. The OTT [21, 22] are companies
Control Plane node responsible for Policy Charging and that offer their Internet service (e.g. YouTube), but do not
Control (PCC), and QoS management. It makes decisions on have their own network infrastructure and deliver the
how to handle the services in terms of QoS Class Identifier service through the network infrastructure of a MNO.
and bit rates, and provides to the PCEF located in the P-GW
788
Figure 2: LTE Network scheme for the provision of Video Streaming
service
789
is always in the home network of the VoLTE user. It can
locate the S-CSCF by two instances:
1. P-CSCF sends a SIP Registration message to the I-CSCF,
based on the domain of the caller user;
2. I-CSCF receives the SIP Invite message from the S-CSCF
of the called user.
After receiving message type 1 or 2, I-CSCF consults the
HSS via Diameter Protocol, in order to locate the right S-
CSCF for the caller user.
When a MNO delivers the VoLTE service by the LTE
architecture, specific architectural nodes are involved in Figure 5: LTE architecture extra nodes for the mobile operator providing
addition to the LTE standardized architectural nodes, shown VoLTE service (managed by MNO)
in Fig. 5.
The LTE architecture is the same showed in Fig. 3 and represents the UE's physical connectivity to the MNO
detailed in the relative section III for the most part of the network. The UE establishes the RRC (Radio Resource
architectures. The difference is in the LTE core network, Control) [28] connection with the eNodeB, inside E-
where in case of VoLTE service providing it is necessary UTRAN block in Fig. 5, to request the resources from the
the presence of the IMS (detailed in section IV), and of the network for its service needs. Then the UE sends an uplink
node called SBC (Session Border Controller). The SBC [36, NAS (Non Assess Stratum) messages, containing the attach
37] isn’t a standardized LTE node, and it is responsible for request message together with a PDN connectivity request
the control over signaling information in voice packet for the PDN (IP) to the MME, so the eNodeB establishes the
services, exchanged between the EPC and the IMS. S1 logical connection with the MME for this UE.
Subsequently through the Update Location Procedure [29,
V. THE VIDEO STREAMING AND VOLTE 30], the MME sends the Update Location request message
FUNCTIONAL MODELS to the HSS in order to update the HSS with the location of
the UE; it also requests the subscriber profile from the HSS
Realizing a functional model is the first essential step in the using this message. The HSS will update its database and
QoE/QoS relationship assessment. Functional model is a send, in the answer message, the UE subscriber profile
representation of all the phases of the service provisioning, information.
that involves both standardized and non-standardized Step 2 refers to the LTE Network Attach procedure named
architectural nodes, such as the standardized messages and phase B (dashed blue arrow with number 2). In this second
procedures that these nodes forward among them. So, the phase, an attach request is sent from the access network to
aim of a functional model is to establish the operational the core network EPC (i.e. the S-GW and PDN-GW). To
phases of service set-up, provisioning, and end-up. Next this aim, the MME sends a Create Session Request to the
step is the realization of the simulation model, on the basis PDN-GW, toward the S-GW, to establish the end-to-end
of the procedures implemented with the functional model, default bearer connectivity. The PDN-GW can contact the
that will give performance results, in order to establish and AAA radius, if it is present in the MNO network (AAA
validate the mathematical relation between QoE and QoS. radius isn’t a standardized LTE architectural node, so its
Fig. 6 - 8 [43] show the LTE functional models for the presence depends on MNO decisions), for a further UE's
Video Streaming (with CDN or OTT) and VoLTE MNO verification. If the verification is successful, the PDN-GW
managed services. To get service from the network, the UE allocates an IP address for the UE, allowing the
needs to synchronized itself with the network in both the establishment of the PDN connection. Then the PDN-GW
downlink as well as the uplink direction. The downlink sends the positive response to create the default bearer to the
synchronization occurs when UE performs network and cell S-GW, that sends a Create Session Response to MME. At
selection, the uplink synchronization instead happens this point start the Default Bearer establishment [31] and the
through the Random Access Procedure (RAP) [27]. UE is now ready to use the network services.
Assuming UE has performed synchronization with the Step 3 depends on the type of service that UE requires.
network, next step needed by UE to use the services, is the Following section explain the step 3 for the services under
registration with the network. This registration is known as study.
the LTE network attachment and the operation flows to
service delivery follows three steps derived by 3GPP: V.I The Video Streaming functional model with CDN
Step 1: LTE Network Attach (phase A)
Step 2: LTE Network Attach (phase B) Step 3 for the Video Streaming service will now be
Step 3: Service deliver described using Fig. 6. When a particular piece of content,
Step 1 refers to the LTE Network Attach procedure, named like a video, is requested multiple times, the MNO would
phase A (dashed blue arrow with number 1), and it cache it into the CDN inside the POPs.
790
Figure 6: Video Streaming functional model with CDN[50] Figure 7: OTT Video Streaming functional model [50]
791
[18] ETSI Draft TS 183 CDN: "Content Delivery Network (CDN)
protocols"
[19] ETSI Draft TS 102 990: "CDN Interconnection, use cases and
requirements"
[20] ETSI Draft TS 182 CDNi: "CDN Interconnection Architecture".
[21] L. Bringuier, CTO, Anevia, "White Paper OTT streaming", 2nd
edition, September 2011.
[22] 4G Americas, " Supporting Wireless Video Growth and Trend",
April 2013.
[23] IETF Tool - RFC 2865, "RADIUS", June 2000.
[24] IETF Tool - RFC 2866, "RADIUS Accounting", June 2000.
[25] 3GPP Technical Specification TS 23.228 V11.8.0, “IP Multimedia
Figure 8: VoLTE functional model [50] Subsystem (IMS)”, June 2013.
[26] 3GPP Technical Specification TS 22.228 V12.6.0, “Service
At the same time, a simulation model of the functional Requirements for the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Core Network
models has been realized with OPNET Modeler, and results Subsystem (IMS)” June 2013.
[27] ETSI TS 136 213 V10.1.0 (2011-04), " LTE; Evolved Universal
of simulation in order to validate the framework will be Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical layer procedures
presented. (3GPP TS 36.213 version 10.1.0 Release 10)"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [28] 3GPP TS 36.331: “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-
UTRAN); Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification”
[29] V. Srinivasa Rao, Radisys White Paper, "Protocol Signaling
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Procedures in LTE"
Prof. Giuseppe Iazeolla (University of Study “Guglielmo [30] ETSI TS 132 426 V11.3.0 (2012-11), "LTE; Telecommunication
Marconi” and University of Rome "Tor Vergata") and management; Performance management (PM); Performance
Maurizio Siviero (Telecom Italia), for their support in the measurements Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network (3GPP TS 32.426
version 11.3.0 Release 11)"
PhD thesis and the production of technical reports [43] [44]. [31] ETSI TS 136 523-1 V8.0.1 (2009-01), "LTE; Evolved Universal
Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal
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