Abstract
Abstract: In this paper we study Web multicasting, a service offered by satellite operators to Internet Service Providers around the world. This service employs satellite connections for disseminating periodically Web content to regional and "institutional" WWW caches. We propose a theoretical framework for Web multicasting and formalize the notions of Utility and QoS perceived by customers of Web multicasting services. We explore two alternative charging schemes, Usage- and Subscription-based pricing, and propose a framework for negotiating the provision of the Web multicasting service between a satellite operator and its potential customers. We use this negotiation framework to compare theoretically the two pricing schemes at hand. We show that a given level of QoS can be guaranteed under Subscription-based pricing at a cost at least as low as under Usage-based pricing. Our theoretical framework can be used further by satellite operators and prospective customers to define the content provided through Web multi-casting, estimate its quality, negotiate its price and assess its overall effectiveness.