Neal B. Seitz, Stephen Wolf, Randall S. Bloomfield, and Stephen D. Voran

Abstract: Discusses the standardization of user-oriented, technology-independent measures of telecommunication service quality, including voice, video, and data performance standards. Standards committee work has progressed in three broad phases. In the first phase, participants defined the basic concepts that underline the user-oriented approach to telecommunication quality assessment. In the second phase, participants developed a set of generic user-oriented quality measures, and applied these generic measures in deriving technology-specific performance parameters and measurement methods for packet-switched networks and integrated services digital networks (ISDNs). In the third phase, participants have developed user-oriented quality measures for video and voice communications. User-perceivable video and voice quality impairments are quantified by objective measures chosen for their correlation with carefully collected and numerically quantified human reactions to the transmitted images and sounds.

Keywords: performance; standards; ISDN; telecommunication; ATM; video; quality; metrics; objective; subjective; correlation; data; voice; perception-based

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

For questions or information on this or any other NTIA scientific publication, contact the ITS Publications Office at ITSinfo@ntia.gov or 303-497-3572.

Back to Search Results