Voice traffic performance measurement in packet networks

Quality of voice transportation over packet networks depends on three critical parameters: packet loss, absolute packet delay and packet delay variation (jitter). Common practical problem is how to estimate voice quality for a different number of voice sources with different source characteristics in target networks. Important characteristics of a voice source are: rate (packets per second), packet length (depending on a type of compression), type of source (VBR or CBR) and statistical description. In this paper we propose methodology and practical approach for systematic measurement of voice traffic parameters in respect to varying voice source characteristics. Measurement results that are conducted with presented methodology on an experimental DiffServ network are given, too.