Characterisation and prediction of end-user quality of experience in real-time multiplayer games using objective network performance criteria

Project Member(s): Franklin, D., Lipman, J., Abolhasan, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: NBN Co Ltd (NBN Grants)
NBN Co Ltd (NBN Grants)

Start year: 2022

Summary: The predecessor of this project (PRO19-8806, completed Q2, 2021) aimed to evaluate the relationship between objective measurements of network performance at Layer 2 (and 3) and the Quality of Experience (QoE) perceived by end users as they use different well-known multimedia applications, including a mixture of real-time and non-real-time audio/video services. The project utilised a variety of objective and pseudo-subjective tests. This proposed research project extends this work t by addressing several specific questions which were not explored in the original project by evaluating the impacts of a range of network impairments on QoE from a real-time multiplayer gaming context. We aim to identify he most appropriate metrics which can be used to measure gaming QoE and identify appropriate open source game platforms which provide the necessary instrumentation hooks (e.g. Deep Mind / Quake3, possibly others) to evaluate these metrics using swarms of AI bots and/or human players. These metrics and platforms will then be used to evaluate the specific impacts of network latency, packet loss, and congestion on QoE, using bots and/or human players in the model network.

FOR Codes: Network systems and services, Network engineering

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.