Paris Metro Pricing for the Internet 

                         Andrew Odlyzko
                      AT&T Labs - Research

                      amo@research.att.com

               Revised version, September 21, 1999 




Abstract:

A simple approach, called PMP (Paris Metro Pricing), is suggested for 
providing differentiated services in packet networks such as the
Internet.  It is to partition a network into several logically separate 
channels, each of which would treat all packets equally on a best 
effort basis.  There would be no formal guarantees of quality of 
service.  These channels would differ only in the prices paid for using 
them.  Channels with higher prices would attract less traffic, and 
thereby provide better service.  Price would be the primary tool of 
traffic management.

PMP is the simplest differentiated services solution.  It is designed 
to accomodate user preferences at the cost of sacrificing some of the 
utilization efficiency of the network.



Note:  The text version is older than the .pdf, .ps, and .tex versions,
and does not contain the appendix with the quantitative models that 
those versions have.