Developer tools - Real Network Emulation Extension in Browser Tools and Trace Format Specification Proposal

[sudeepdi]

Application Domain: Developer Tools extension For Dynamic Network Conditions Testing

Description

Proposal: Browser tool for Web Application QoE testing under varying emulated network conditions
The Proposal is to extend current browser tools to emulate different networks using the following approach:

• Browser extension to emulate network behavior over time from trace file
• Load Trace files for different wireless* networks around the world
• Define a Trace file specification that can be followed by all browsers
• Develop a Trace collection tool to gather/create trace files

*Could also be wired, but less important as they have more static behavior\

W3C Web & Networks IG member, Intel is proposing a solution for this and looking for feedback or interest in opening this to the wider community

Example

Test Web Application like media streaming under varying network conditions by emulation of field trace data of real dynamic network conditions in Browser Tools.

Requirements and Proposals

1] Network trace – emulate dynamic network conditions

• Controls overall browser network connection – works with ”any” site
• Replays a trace file with time/parameters, eg. bandwidth, latency...
• Provides ”look ahead” predictions for LPP style link prediction

2] Network trace file

• JSON based file format proposed
• One proposal: Adopt HAR look and feel: https://w3c.github.io/web-performance/specs/HAR/Overview.html
• Simple Header: version, description, client info
• Set of trace events, time/date + parameter fields:
• Network information
• DL/UL bandwidth
• Latency
• GPS position and accuracy

If any member is interested to engage in this Tool requirements definition, development and evaluation proposal, feel free to use this thread.
Also, do tag other folks who might be interested.

Intel LPP update W3C-Sept1.pdf

[acbegen]

Being able to shrink or expand the time unit used in the trace file would be useful. For example, the trace says:
0-1: 10Mbps
1-3: 20 Mbps
Here 0, 1, 3, etc. should be in a unit that can be set at the beginning of the trace file. One case use it with a second or a minute, or 100ms. In other words, rather than using absolute time instances and fixed units, using a variable allows us to shrink or expand the network trace easily.