A Framework for the Subjective Assessment of Audio Communication on IP Switched Networks: Definition and Validation

In this paper a framework for the subjective assessment of the quality of perception and interaction of audio communications over not guaranteed QoS IP networks, is defined and validated. One of the most significant components of such framework is a low cost network performance modeling system. The validation process mainly consisted in proving that the user level of satisfaction, as measured in the framework, is strictly related to the network performances. With this aim, several series of tests have been prepared and completed, according to the ITU-T recommendations for the subjective performance assessment , using different audio conference tools and modeling different network traffic conditions.