REVIEW OF KEY PAPER: Title of Key Paper: The title of the paper under review is "Studying of different parameters

that affect QoS in IPTV systems" by Maraj A. et al. Objectives of research: The paper sought to achieve the following: 1. Analyse the effects of three network parameters (jitter, delay and losses) on QoS of IPTV networks. 2. Design an intelligent controlling technique based on Fuzzy Logic with the aim of ensuring better link utilization (more than 80%). Hypothesis: The hypothesis tested in this research is about how improving link utilization is very important in avoiding congestion which in turn increases the QoS. Research Approach: This research was empirical/experimental and simulations were made with MATLAB software. Methodology: An IPTV queuing system for transmitting 3 multiplexed video sources through the same buffer over a shared link was considered as an example.

Figure: An IPTV queuing system for transmitting 3 multiplexed video sources [] A fuzzy logic controller (FLC) was designed using the network parameters: jitter, delay and losses, as input metrics and the link utilization as the output metric.

Figure: Fuzzy logic controller with three inputs (jitter, delay & losses) The expectation is ensuring there are no losses, delay and jitter at a certain value of network utilization. Therefore, fuzzy sets were defined for each network parameter as thus: Table 1: Network parameters and fuzzy sets INPUT Jitter Delay Packet Losses FUZZY SETS Low, Medium, High (ms) Acceptable, Tolerable, Intolerable (ms) Acceptable, Tolerable, Intolerable (%)

MATLAB was used to derive membership functions for the IPTV network based on the parameters above.

Results/Findings: The outputs of the fuzzy system for the network metrics are as follows:

Figure: Jitter

Figure: Delay

Figure: Packet Losses

Figure: Link Utilization (Output QoS)

Using fuzzy-AND operators (f-AND) to derive fuzzy rules in the rule editor in MATLAB, the results were as follows: Rule 1: IF Jitter is Low AND Loss is Intolerable AND Delay is Acceptable THEN QoS is High = 86.2%

Figure: Output of Rule 1 in MATLAB Rule 2: IF Jitter is High AND Loss is Acceptable AND Delay is Acceptable THEN QoS is Medium = 44.8%

Figure: Output of Rule 2 in MATLAB Rule 3: IF Jitter is High AND Loss is Intolerable AND Delay is Intolerable THEN QoS is Low = 13.9%

Figure: Output of Rule 3 in MATLAB

EVALUATIONS & OUTCOMES: The report has a well defined and understandable purpose. It sought to study the effect of certain network parameters on QoS of IPTV and design an intelligent controlling technique. The choice of fuzzy logic as an intelligent controlling technique is most suitable due to its similarity with human reasoning. This is because unlike traditional two-valued logic (e.g. Yes or No, True or False, On or Off etc.) fuzzy logic is multi-valued (e.g. Cold, Warm or Hot, Low, Medium or High etc.). The three parameters that were studied (jitter, delay & packet losses) are most suitable for the purpose of the research because they have the most direct effect on QoS. The results obtained showed that IPTV QoS is better at high link utilization of more than 80% (approximately 86.2%), where the stream has low jitter, intolerable loss and acceptable delay. This was justified in an experiment by T. Janevski & Z. Vanevski [ ] who found satisfactory quality of IPTV at loads of 85% link utilization. Actually, packet losses were even lower as compared to lower link utilization of 65%. However, the reporting of the research was poorly executed. There were so many grammatical errors and the outline of the report was not organized. For example, the methods and results were not clearly separated. A review of related work was absent as well as justification of why the research had to be done in the first place. Also absent in the report is recommendations for areas of further study. Overall, the report was satisfactory and the objectives of the research were met. IPTV service providers will find the outcome of this research useful in maintaining a high link utilization by keeping the earlier mentioned network parameters as low as possible.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS: The network parameters that have the biggest effect on perceptual video quality are jitter and packet loss [Claypool and Tanner]. An IPTV metrics exists that measures the effects of both parameters called Media delivery index (MDI). I recommend the use of aggregated MDI values derived from different IPTV network elements as input metric in an intelligent controller (e.g. fuzzy controller) to ensure a desired QoS level by monitoring the effect of jitter and packet losses. MDI is a network measurement metric for monitoring and troubleshooting the quality of IPTV traffic by checking quality levels at different points in the network and measuring instances of jitter and packet losses that occur at different points of the IPTV network. It consists of two values, delay factor (DF) and media loss rate (MLR). Delay factor measures the amount of buffering time required to compensate for the jitter that is present in the network, while media loss rate measures the amount of lost or dropped IPTV packet per second. MDI expresses the final QoS from a combination of these two values.