Using throughput mode distribution as a proxy for quality of experience and path selection in the internet

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
• calculate one or more distributions of bitrates associated with an application whose traffic is conveyed via one or more paths in a network;
• detect throughput modes of the application, based on the one or more distributions of bitrates associated with the application;
• associate each throughput mode with a quality of experience label, to form a plurality of pairs of throughput modes and quality of experience labels;
• and
• estimate a quality of experience metric for the application, based on a bitrate of the application and the plurality of pairs of throughput modes and quality of experience labels.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising:

• calculating, by the device, one or more distributions of bitrates associated with an application whose traffic is conveyed via one or more paths in a network;
• detecting, by the device, throughput modes of the application, based on the one or more distributions of bitrates associated with the application;
• associating, by the device, each throughput mode with a quality of experience label, to form a plurality of pairs of throughput modes and quality of experience labels;
• and
• estimating, by the device, a quality of experience metric for the application, based on a bitrate of the application and the plurality of pairs of throughput modes and quality of experience labels.