Internet Draft



Network Working Group                                   Muneyoshi Suzuki
INTERNET DRAFT                                                       NTT
Expires April 14, 1998                                  October 14, 1997


            Architecture of the Resource Reservation Service
                      for the Commercial Internet
                <draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt>

Status of this Memo

   This document is an Internet-Draft.  Internet-Drafts are working
   documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas,
   and its working groups.  Note that other groups may also distribute
   working documents as Internet-Drafts.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
   material or to cite them other than as "work in progress".

   To learn the current status of any Internet-Draft, please check the
   "1id-abstracts.txt" listing contained in the Internet-Drafts Shadow
   Directories on ftp.is.co.za (Africa), nic.nordu.net (Europe),
   munnari.oz.au (Pacific Rim), ds.internic.net (US East Coast), or
   ftp.isi.edu (US West Coast).


Abstract

   The purpose of this document is to clarify the architecture that
   should be used for the resource reservation service for the
   commercial Internet.

   First, this document explains the basis of the tariff for current
   telecommunication and Internet services.  Then it clarifies problems
   in the billing for Internet service, and describes how billing can be
   improved by using the resource reservation setup protocol.  Finally,
   it also studies technical and application models for a commercial
   resource reservation service model, and clarifies an architecture for
   the resource reservation setup protocol.


1. Introduction

   With the development of new multimedia applications, such as voice,
   audio, picture, and video communication, the demands on the resource
   reservation service are increasing, especially as Internet traffic



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 1]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   volume grows explosively due to these applications.  Therefore,
   tariff systems for Internet service have tended to adopt measured
   rate billing, and the resource reservation setup protocol [1, 2] is
   increasingly important as a method for implementing measured rate
   billing.  The resource reservation setup protocol must support
   billing if it is to be applied to the commercial Internet, especially
   measured rate billing between interconnected Internet Service
   Providers (ISPs) is needed.

   The purpose of this document is to clarify the architecture that
   should be used for the resource reservation service for the
   commercial Internet.  First, this document explains the basis of the
   tariff for current telecommunication and Internet services.  Then it
   clarifies problems in the billing for Internet service, and describes
   how billing can be improved by using the resource reservation setup
   protocol.  Finally, it also studies technical and application models
   for a commercial resource reservation service model, and clarifies an
   architecture for the resource reservation setup protocol.

   Incidentally, it is essential to examine billing based on business
   administration issues, not technical ones.  For example, on a
   telephone service, it technically makes sense to charge the caller
   when the user being called is on another line.  This is because,
   telephone switches were in operation when they notified the caller
   that the number he called was busy.  However, such a billing policy
   is contrary to the customs of business. Readers should note that the
   billing problems and solutions discussed in this document are not
   only based on the technical viewpoint.


2. The Basis of the Tariff

   Basic elements that determine the network tariff are distance,
   bandwidth, time, and information volume.  In many cases, the network
   tariff reflects the link cost to some extent.

   In this document, distance means the distance between the regions
   where users call from and to, not the actual length of the physical
   links that connect users.  In actual communication, a route depends
   on network situations, so a charge based on the physical link
   distance is inappropriate.


2.1 The Tariff in Telecommunication Services

   Classifications of the basic styles of tariff systems in
   telecommunication services and some examples are shown below.  The
   following classifications do not cover applied billing styles, for



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 2]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   example contents-based charging or premium charging such as the Dial
   Q2 service of NTT, or the 900 telephone service.

   o Flat-rate billing

     - Leased line
       In most cases, the tariff is based on distance and bandwidth.

     - PVC-based frame relay and ATM
       In most cases, the tariff is based on distance and bandwidth.

   o Measured-rate billing

     - Telephone
       In most cases, the tariff is based on distance and time.

     - Circuit switching
       In most cases, the tariff is based on distance, bandwidth, and
       time.

     - SVC-based frame relay and ATM
       In most cases, the tariff is based on distance, bandwidth, and
       time, or information volume.

     - X.25 packet switching
       In most cases, the tariff is based on information volume.

   Furthermore, measured rate billing is classified into calling- or
   called-party billing.  The basic charge style for telecommunication
   service is calling-party billing.

   o Calling-party billing

     - Usual telephone service

   o Called-party billing

     - The Free Dial service of NTT and the 800 telephone service.

   Basically, telecommunication service is designed for connection-
   oriented, point-to-point, and bidirectional communication.  In the
   case of measured-rate billing, usually the calling or the called
   party pays the bidirectional communication charge.  In the case of
   called-party billing, a function that allows incoming calls to be
   accepted or refused based on the calling-party address, or a function
   that restricts the calling-party addresses that are permitted to use
   called-party billing, is indispensable.  This is because, the
   communication charge that a called party is willing to accept is



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 3]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   usually limited.

   The current tendency in telecommunication-service tariff systems is
   to change from measured-rate billing, which reflects link costs
   accurately, to flat-rate billing, which simplifies the charging
   system, and service tends to be provided by flat-rate billing inside
   a single provider.  The tariff for services between provider is
   usually the sum of the individual providers charges.  Flat-rate
   billing, like that within a single provider, is not currently
   realistic for services that cross providers.


2.2 Tariffs for Internet Service

   Classifications of basic styles and examples of the tariff system for
   Internet service are shown below.

   o Flat-rate billing

     - Internet access via leased line, PVC-based frame relay, or ATM
       In most cases, the tariff is based on bandwidth.

   o Measured-rate billing

     - Dialup Internet access using a modem or N-ISDN
       In most cases, the tariff is based on time.

     - Internet access via leased line, PVC-based frame relay, or ATM
       Some ISPs have adopted information-volume-based tariff systems.

   Note: Dialup access charges in this document do not include the basic
   telephone fee.

   Until now, the tariff system for Internet access has mainly been
   flat-rate billing, because measured-rate billing is technically
   difficult to implement.  However, the development of new multimedia
   applications, such as voice, audio, picture, and video communication,
   has caused the traffic over the Internet to increase explosively.
   The cost of using the public network service is lower than when using
   a private network system, if users can share equipment and lines.
   However, if the traffic from all its users is at a steady high rate,
   the cost advantage of the public network service is lost.  Therefore,
   Internet service tariff systems, although they use leased line
   access, tend to adopt information-volume-based tariff systems.







Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 4]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


3. Billing in the Resource Reservation Service

3.1 Problems of Billing in Internet Service

   Basically, the tariff system for Internet service seems similar to
   that for telecommunication service.  However, note that the tariff
   system for Internet service based on the access method from the user
   site to the ISP, is not based on the end-to-end communication method.
   The Internet is a connection less and unreliable communication, and
   some users are beginning to use it for multicast communication.  But,
   the telecommunication is basically a connection-oriented, point-to-
   point, and bidirectional form of communication, so telecommunication
   and Intrenet communication are essentially different in some ways.

   Current Internet service does not allow billing based on end-to-end
   user site distance.  This is because the structure of the IP address
   is flat, rather than a layered structure that contains information
   about the provider and region.  So information about distance for
   billing purpose cannot be obtained from the IP address directly.

   Note: In this document, an address means an identifier, such as a
   class A, B, or C IP address, that uniquely distinguishes an end
   point.  It does not means a group identifier such as a class D
   address.

   For Internet service, billing based on bandwidth can be provided, but
   only for the line bandwidth between the user site and the ISP; it is
   not based on the end-to-end user or application bandwidth, such as
   the bandwidth in telecommunication services.

   Current Internet service, except for the dialup access, does not
   allow billing based on time because the IP is a connection less
   communication, and timing information about the beginning and ending
   of billing is too difficult to obtain.

   Some current ISPs have adopted information-volume-based tariff
   systems.  However, this billing is based on the information volume of
   IP packets that are sent to or received from the user site and the
   ISP.  Again, because the IP is a connection less and unreliable
   communication, it is too difficult to provide billing based on the
   information volume of IP packets that are actually used between end-
   to-end users or applications.

   It is not impossible to provide both user billing, and application
   provider billing over the Internet when particular services are used.
   These forms of billing are equivalent to calling- and called-party
   billing in telecommunication service.  However, obtaining the timing
   information about the beginning and ending of application usage at



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 5]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   the IP layer is too difficult because the IP is a connection less
   communication.  To have billing based on usage time, the service
   application responsible for the bill must identify the user and
   monitor the usage.  Also a billing process, where part of the billing
   is transferred from the user to the service provider, must be
   implemented.  As a result, the billing system complexity is
   increased.


3.2 Improved Billing Using the Resource Reservation Setup Protocol

   As explained above, billing for current commercial Internet service
   has many problems, but a resource reservation setup protocol may
   solve these problems.

   For example, the resource reservation setup protocol ensures the
   availability of end-to-end network resources, so billing based on
   bandwidth (FlowSpec) between user sites may be possible.  Also, the
   resource reservation setup protocol explicitly shows the resource
   acquire and release timings, so billing based on time may be
   feasible.

   The resource reservation setup protocol also guarantees QoS based on
   the FlowSpec, so billing based on the information volume that is
   actually used between end-to-end users or applications may also be
   feasible.  Furthermore, there is a possibility that the billing for
   each IP flow can be distributed to ether the sender or the receiver.

   However, the resource reservation setup protocol cannot solve the
   problem of how billing can be based on distance because the flat
   structure of the IP address does not change and it is still
   impossible to obtain information about distance for billing from the
   IP address directly even when the resource reservation setup protocol
   is used.


4. Technical Model of the Resource Reservation Service

   This section looks at an unreliable, unidirectional, and tree-
   structured multicast architecture as a technical model for a resource
   reservation service.  The QoS to all receivers is assumed to be the
   same, and flow merging is not examined.









Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 6]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


                                  +---+
                                  | S |
                                  +---+
                +-----------------/---\-----------------+
                |              a /     \ b              |
                |               /       \               |
                |              / ISP-A  /\              |
                |             /        /  \             |
                |            /      c /    \ d          |
                +-----------/--------/------\-----------+
                       +---+    +-------+    +---+
                       |R1 |    |router |    |R2 |
                       +---+    +-------+    +---+
                +-----------------/---\-----------------+
                |              e /     \ f              |
                |               /       \               |
                |              / ISP-B  /\              |
                |             /        /  \             |
                |            /      g /    \ h          |
                +-----------/--------/------\-----------+
                       +---+      +---+      +---+
                       |R3 |      |R4 |      |R5 |
                       +---+      +---+      +---+

              Fig. 4.1: Resource Reservation Service Model.

   As shown in Fig. 4.1, ISP-A and ISP-B are interconnected, a sender S
   and receivers R1 and R2 belong to ISP-A, and receivers R3, R4, and R5
   belong to ISP-B.  The links shown in Fig. 4.1 represent the logical
   links that connect the regions which decide the tariff, not the
   physical links that connect users.  This section studies the receiver
   billing and the sender billing resource reservation service with this
   model.


4.1 Receiver Billing

   When the resource reservation service is provided under receiver
   billing, the problem is how to bill for the shared links, such as b,
   c, and f.  The shared link cost must be distributed and billed to
   receivers based on some rule.

   One solution inside a single ISP is to adopt a tariff system that
   does not depend on how the links shared between receivers.  Billing
   that is based on the cost of the links that make up the multicast
   tree is equivalent to billing based on distance.  Therefore, billing
   that does not depend on the link sharing approach is equivalent to
   billing that is not based on distance.  This means the billing can be



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 7]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   based on bandwidth (FlowSpec), time, and information volume.

   For example, if an interconnected destination ISP is regarded as a
   receiver, ISP-A bills to R1, R2 and ISP-B, and ISP-B bills to R3, R4,
   and R5 [3].  The billing from ISP-A to ISP-B is distributed based on
   some rule, and is added to the base charge in ISP-B.  If a large
   number of users join the multicast and the statistical tendency of
   network utilization is known, it is possible to provide this type of
   tariff system, although it does not accurately reflect communication
   costs.

   Another solution is to distribute the shared link cost among the
   receivers that share the link.  For example, the cost of link b would
   be shared by R2, R3, R4 and R5.  This method does reflect accurate
   communication costs.  However, in practice it is difficult to
   implement the billing system since the complexity of computing the
   cost of the shared link, located near a sender like b, is increased
   because the receiver can dynamically join and leave the multicast
   tree.

   Therefore, in the case of receiver billing, if many users join the
   multicast and the statistical tendency of network utilization is
   known, billing based on bandwidth (FlowSpec), time, and information
   volume can be provided.


4.2 Sender Billing

   When the resource reservation service is provided under the sender
   billing, the problem due to the shared link is avoided, because there
   is no need to distribute the shared link cost.  In the above model,
   the sender would be billed for the link costs from a to h.

   Therefore, with sender billing, billing based on accurate link costs
   can be provided.  Billing based on the link cost is equivalent to
   billing based on distance.  However, information about distance for
   billing cannot be obtained from the IP address directly.  Therefore,
   a database that can extract information about distance from the
   destination IP address is needed to enable billing based on the link
   cost.

   This is also true for sender billing: if a number of users join the
   multicast and the statistical tendency of network utilization is
   known, it is possible to provide billing based on bandwidth
   (FlowSpec), time, and information volume.  That is, the sender pays
   for the billing to R1, R2, and ISP-B in ISP-A, and to R3, R4, and R5
   in ISP-B.




Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 8]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   Therefore, with sender billing, if a database is implemented that can
   extract information about distance for billing from the destination
   IP address, it will be possible to provide billing based on distance,
   bandwidth (FlowSpec), time, and information volume.  And if many
   users join the multicast and the statistical tendency of network
   utilization is known, it will also be possible to provide billing
   based on bandwidth (FlowSpec), time, and information volume.


5. Application Model for the Resource Reservation Service

   This section examines the following multimedia applications to
   develop an application model for the resource reservation service.

   o Broadcast-type application model

   o Advertisement-type application model

   o Conference-type application model

   Methods of implementing the application model using the technical
   model described in the previous section are also examined.


5.1 Broadcast-type Application Model

   We assume that the broadcast-type application model has the following
   features.

   o The application provider broadcasts to receivers using the
     multicast, and, in practice, the application is open to the public.

   o Many receivers subscribe to the broadcast, and the statistical
     tendency of network utilization is known.

   o Joining the multicast tree is initiated from the receiver.

   o The receiver pays the full amount billed.

   o The billing is based on information volume or bandwidth (FlowSpec)
     and time, and not on distance.

   Features of this model correspond to receiver billing in the
   technical model, so it is appropriate for this model to be supported
   by it.  Therefore, receiver billing based on bandwidth (FlowSpec) and
   time, or information volume can be provided.





Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                   [Page 9]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


5.2 Advertisement-type Application Model

   We assume that the advertisement-type application model has the
   following features.

   o The application provider advertises to receivers using the
     multicast, and, in practice, the application is open to the public.

   o Many receivers subscribe to the advertisement, and the statistical
     tendency of network utilization is known.

   o Joining the multicast tree is initiated from the receiver side.

   o The application provider pays the full amount billed.

   o A function that restricts the region in which the receiver is
     permitted to join, or a function that decides whether to accept or
     refuse the joining request based on the IP address of the receiver
     or based on the tariff to be billed, is indispensable.  This is
     because the communication charge that is acceptable to an
     application provider is usually limited.

   Features of this model roughly correspond to sender billing in the
   technical model, so it is appropriate for this model to be supported
   by it.  But this model needs a function that restricts the region in
   which the receiver is permitted to join, or a function that decides
   whether to accept or refuse the joining request based on the IP
   address of the receiver or based on the tariff to be billed.

   If the region that the receiver is permitted to join is simply
   restricted by the ISP boundary, the model can be implemented by
   restricting the IP flow forwarding between ISPs.

   But if the decision to accept or refuse the joining request is based
   on the IP address of the receiver or based on the tariff to be
   billed, a database that can extract information about permission or
   distance for billing from the destination IP address is needed.  In
   the resource reservation setup protocol, a procedure that supports
   this kind of processing is also needed.

   However, if this procedure is processed only by the sender, and the
   number of receivers significantly increases, saturation of the sender
   protocol processing may occur.  Therefore, an intermediate node is
   needed inside the multicast tree, and this intermediate node will
   decide whether to accept or refuse the joining request.






Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 10]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   Therefore, in the advertisement-type application model, if the region
   that the receiver is permitted to join is simply restricted by the
   ISP boundary, it is appropriate for this model to be supported by the
   sender billing in the technical model.  Thus, sender billing based on
   bandwidth (FlowSpec) and time, or information volume, can be
   provided.

   If the decision to accept or refuse the joining request is based on
   the IP address of the receiver or based on the tariff to be billed,
   in addition to the sender billing in the technical model, a database,
   that can extract information about permission or distance for billing
   from the destination IP address is needed.  In the resource
   reservation setup protocol, a procedure that supports this process is
   also needed.  In this case, it can be provided by sender billing
   based on distance, bandwidth (FlowSpec) and time, or information
   volume.


5.3 Conference-type Application Model

   We assume that the conference-type application model has the
   following features.

   o The conference is held by a small number of participants.

   o The statistical tendency of network utilization in the conference
     depends on each conference style and the tendency is hard to
     estimate.

   o Joining the conference is initiated by each participant. That is

     - Joining the multicast tree from an existing participant or
       receiving information from the conference server is initiated by
       the receiver.

     - Construction of the multicast tree for existing participants or
       information sent to the conference server is initiated by the
       sender.

   o Management of conference participants is indispensable.  A function
     that can decide to accept or refuse a participation request based
     on the IP address of the potential participant, or a similar
     function is needed.

   To avoid establishing an unreasonably expensive tariff for short
   distance communications, this model needs billing based on accurate
   link costs, because the tendency of network utilization is hard to
   estimate.



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 11]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   Therefore, in this model, in addition to the sender billing from the
   technical model, a database that can extract information about
   permission and distance for billing from the destination IP address
   is needed.  In the resource reservation setup protocol, a procedure
   that supports this process is also needed.  In this case, it can be
   provided by sender billing based on distance, bandwidth (FlowSpec)
   and time, or information volume.


6. Architecture of the Resource Reservation Setup Protocol

   Combinations of the billing side and the initiating side in a joining
   request in the resource reservation setup protocol based on the above
   studies are shown in Table 6.1.

   Table 6.1: Combinations of Billing and Initiating Sides of Joining Request.

           +---------------+---------------+---------------+
           |  Application  | Billing Side  |Initiating Side|
           +===============+===============+===============+
           |   Broadcast   |   Receiver    |   Receiver    |
           +---------------+---------------+---------------+
           | Advertisement |    Sender     |   Receiver    |
           +---------------+---------------+---------------+
           |   Conference  |    Sender     |Sender,Receiver|
           +---------------+---------------+---------------+

   In addition to supporting all the above combinations of the billing
   side and the initiating side in a joining request, the commercial
   resource reservation service must satisfy the following requirements
   for sender billing.

   o A function is needed that restricts the region that a receiver is
     permitted to join, or that decides whether to accept or refuse the
     joining request based on the receiver IP address and/or on the
     tariff to be billed.

   o If the application is open to the public, an intermediate node that
     decides whether to accept or refuse the joining request is needed
     inside the multicast tree.

   To achieve the combination of a sender billed and receiver initiated
   joining request, the resource reservation setup protocol must support
   a resource reservation procedure that is initiated by acceptance of a
   joining request from a receiver.  Therefore, the following sender
   initiation basis protocol is a natural architecture for the
   commercial resource reservation service.




Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 12]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   o The basis of the resource reservation setup protocol is sender
     initiation.  That is, as shown in Fig. 6.1, the sender explicitly
     designates the receiver address, sends a resource reservation setup
     message (SETUP), and constructs the multicast tree.

                                  +---+
                         +--------| S |--------+
                         |        +---+        |
                +--------|--------/-|-\--------|--------+
                |        |       /  |  \       |        |
                |        |      /   |   \      |        |
                |      SETUP   /  SETUP /\   SETUP      |
                |        |    /     |  /  \    |        |
                |        |   /      | /    \   |        |
                +--------|--/------ | ------\--|--------+
                       +-V-+    +---V---+    +-V-+
                       |R1 |    |       |    |R2 |
                       +---+    |router |    +---+
                         +------|       |------+
                         |      +-------+      |
                +--------|--------/-|-\--------|--------+
                |        |       /  |  \       |        |
                |        |      /   |   \      |        |
                |      SETUP   /  SETUP /\   SETUP      |
                |        |    /     |  /  \    |        |
                |        |   /      | /    \   |        |
                +--------|--/------ | ------\--|--------+
                       +-V-+      +-V-+      +-V-+
                       |R3 |      |R4 |      |R5 |
                       +---+      +---+      +---+

                       Fig. 6.1: Sender Initiation.



















Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 13]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   o In the case of receiver initiation, as shown in Fig. 6.2, the
     receiver explicitly sends the joining request message (JOIN), and
     if the sender accepts it, the sender sends a resource reservation
     setup message to the receiver.

                                  +---+
                                  | S |
                                  +A--+
                +-----------------/|-|\-----------------+
                |                / | | \                |
                |               /  | |  \               |
                |              JOIN| |SETUP             |
                |             /    | | /  \             |
                |            /     | |/    \            |
                +-----------/------|-|------\-----------+
                       +---+    +----V--+    +---+
                       |R1 |    |       |    |R2 |
                       +---+    |router |    +---+
                        +------->       |
                        | +---- +-------+
                +-------|-|-------/---\-----------------+
                |       | |      /     \                |
                |       | |     /       \               |
                |   JOIN| |SETUP        /\              |
                |       | |   /        /  \             |
                |       | |  /        /    \            |
                +-------|-|-/--------/------\-----------+
                       +--V+      +---+      +---+
                       |R3 |      |R4 |      |R5 |
                       +---+      +---+      +---+

                      Fig. 6.2: Receiver Initiation.



















Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 14]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


   o However, if the application is open to the public, as shown in Fig.
     6.3, the intermediate node inside the multicast tree that decides
     whether to accept or refuse the joining request, may send a
     resource reservation setup message as a response to the joining
     request message.

                                  +---+
                                  | S |
                                  +---+
                +-----------------/---\-----------------+
                |                /     \                |
                |               /       \               |
                |              /        /\              |
                |             /        /  \             |
                |            /        /    \            |
                +-----------/--------/------\-----------+
                       +---+    +-------+    +---+
                       |R1 |    |       |    |R2 |
                       +---+    | node  |    +---+
                        +------->       |
                        | +---- +-------+
                +-------|-|-------/---\-----------------+
                |       | |      /     \                |
                |       | |     /       \               |
                |   JOIN| |SETUP        /\              |
                |       | |   /        /  \             |
                |       | |  /        /    \            |
                +-------|-|-/--------/------\-----------+
                       +--V+      +---+      +---+
                       |R3 |      |R4 |      |R5 |
                       +---+      +---+      +---+

                       Fig. 6.3: Intermediate Node.


7. Conclusions

   This document studied technical and application models of the
   resource reservation service, and clarified the followings in terms
   of an architecture for the resource reservation setup protocol.

   o The basis of the resource reservation setup protocol is sender
     initiation.  That is, the sender explicitly designates the receiver
     address, sends a resource reservation setup message and constructs
     a multicast tree.

   o In the case of receiver initiation, the receiver explicitly sends a
     joining request message; if the sender accepts it, the sender sends



Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 15]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


     a resource reservation setup message to the receiver.

   o However, if the application is open to the public, an intermediate
     node inside the multicast tree decides whether to accept or refuse
     the joining request, and may send a resource reservation setup
     message as a response to the joining request message.

   Finally, if the billing policies of ISPs are fundamentally different
   from each other in the commercial resource reservation service, it
   will be difficult to achieve smooth interconnection.  Therefore, the
   author believes that ISPs need to conclude agreements or to clarify
   recommendations concerning minimum common billing policies for the
   resource reservation service, especially on the definition of
   distance for billing purpose.


References

      [1] L. Delgrossi and L. Berger, Ed., "Internet Stream Protocol
      Version 2 (ST2) Protocol Specification - Version ST2+," RFC 1819,
      August 1995.

      [2] R. Braden Ed., "Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP)-Version 1
      Functional Specification," RFC 2205, September 1997.

      [3] S. Herzog, "Policy Control for RSVP: Architectural Overview,"
      Internet Draft, November 1996, .


Acknowledgments

      This document is based on my discussions with many colleagues at
      NTT.  I would like to specially thank Hiroshi Ishikawa, Sadahiko
      Kanou, Masaru Nishi, Satoshi Takamatsu, and Hideaki Arai of the
      NTT Network Strategy Planning Dept., and also Hisao Uose of the
      NTT Multimedia Networks Labs. for their valuable comments.

      And I would also like to especially thank Joel Halpern and James
      Watt of Newbridge Networks for their valuable comments and
      suggestions.

      Also this document is based on various discussions during NTT
      Multimedia Joint Project with NACSIS.  I would like to thank
      Professor Shoichiro Asano of the National Center for Science
      Information Systems for his invaluable advice in this area.





Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 16]

INTERNET DRAFT   draft-suzuki-res-resv-svc-arch-02.txt   September, 1997


Author's Address

      Muneyoshi Suzuki
      NTT Multimedia Networks Laboratories
      3-9-11, Midori-cho
      Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180, Japan

      Phone: +81-422-59-2119
      Fax:   +81-422-59-3203
      EMail: suzuki@nal.ecl.net









































Suzuki                    Expires March, 1998                  [Page 17]