Introduction

The next generation of networks will see the convergence of the telephone network and the IP network into a single, unified network. One advantage of this convergence is the possibility of deploying new multimedia services, as well as integrating packet and circuit technologies in a solution that takes end-to-end QoS into account. Two signaling models are possible: path-coupled and path-decoupled (see § 2). QoS solutions will enable bandwidth to be shared efficiently between traditional best-effort applications and quality-assured services such as VoIP (voice over IP) or VoD (video on demand). To be guaranteed, the convergence solution must meet three criteria [1]...