Abstract
End-to-end available bandwidth estimation is very important for real-time services such as voice over internet protocol, videoconferencing and peer-to-peer streaming. Several available bandwidth estimation methods such as Pathload, IGI/PTR, pathChirp, Yaz and ASSOLO have been proposed. However, these methods have drawbacks in terms of accuracy of available bandwidth estimation and/or network load performance. In this paper, we present an available bandwidth estimation method comprised of two functions for providing high accurate estimation and low network load performance. One function is the available bandwidth estimation function that directly calculates the available bandwidth using the end-to-end delay increase rate. The other function is the rate adjustment algorithm that adjusts the error between the actual available bandwidth and the available bandwidth calculated using the available bandwidth estimation function. The rate adjustment algorithm of the proposed method is based on that of Pathload because Pathload provides high accuracy in estimating available bandwidth. Finally, we compare the proposed method with Pathload in terms of estimation accuracy and network load performance using computer simulation and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
