Evolution in wireless systems management concepts: from composite radio environments to reconfigurability

Wireless communications is witnessing the emergence of the composite radio and reconfigurability concepts. The former assumes that different radio networks can be cooperating components in a heterogeneous wireless access infrastructure, through which network providers can more efficiently achieve the required capacity and QoS levels. Reconfigurability enables terminals and network elements to dynamically select and adapt to the most appropriate radio access technologies for handling conditions encountered in specific service area regions and time zones of the day. Both concepts pose new requirements on the management of wireless systems. This article presents a management system, which has been developed for enabling wireless systems to operate in a CR context. Moreover, the article addresses the necessary extensions to the management system for handling the impact of the reconfigurability context.     

Transparent IP radio access for next-generation mobile networks

Advances in network architecture, enhancements in signaling protocols, provisioning of end-to-end QoS, worldwide seamless mobility, and flexible service provision are among the major research challenges toward next-generation wireless networks. The integration and interoperability of all these technologies, along with new truly broadband wireless innovations and intelligent user-oriented services will lead toward the so-called 4G wireless networks. In this article we identify the key issues of an innovative transparent IP radio access system that targets 4G networks.     

Narrowband and broadband infrastructure design for wirelessnetworks

There has been an explosion in the number of wireless subscribers. A number of air interface technologies, such as GSM, TDMA and CDMA, are available to wireless service providers for offering wireless services. In addition, a variety of networking technologies, such as STM, ATM and frame relay, are available to the wireless services provider for designing their infrastructure networks. The abundant choice of technologies, and their associated capabilities and costs, creates a need for network design tools which can help vendors and wireless service providers to understand the economics of investing in different technologies. This article is concerned with the design of narrowband and broadband infrastructure networks for wireless access. The article first describes the different technology alternatives and tariff structures and their impact on wireless infrastructure network design. The general infrastructure design problem is then stated and a solution methodology outlined. Examples of the economic trade-offs involved in narrowband and broadband networking technologies are also presented     

Emerging wireless broadband networks

The rapid evolution of mobile wireless access networks toward multimedia support with QoS provision forces the development of advanced wireless broadband systems with high reliability and high data rate. To achieve this goal, new system design concepts with increased system capacity will be required. In that context, ATM is becoming a major infrastructure, receiving a lot of attention for telecommunication systems since ATM networks can most effectively support wireless access systems. Wireless ATM systems have low transmission cost, flexible functionality, mobile ATM protocol, and radio access layer protocols. This article overviews the various wireless broadband systems studied at 5, 19.37, 40, and 60 GHz by European Union funded projects within the ACTS program. Moreover, related standardization activities and network evolution are also addressed     

ATM-based transport architecture for multiservices wirelesspersonal communication networks

This paper presents an ATM-based transport architecture for next-generation multiservices personal communication networks (PCN). Such “multimedia capable” integrated services wireless networks are motivated by an anticipated demand for wireless extensions to future broadband networks. An ATM compatible wireless network concept capable of supporting a mix of broadband ISDN services including constant bit-rate (CBR), variable bit-rate (VBR), and packet data transport is explored from an architectural viewpoint. The proposed system uses a hierarchical ATM switching network for interconnection of PCN microcells, each of which is serviced by high-speed, shared-access radio links based on ATM-compatible cell, relay principles. Design issues related to the physical (modulation), media access control (MAC), and data-link layers of the ATM-based radio link are discussed, and preliminary technical approaches are identified in each case. An example multiservice dynamic reservation (MDR) TDMA media access protocol is then considered in further detail, and simulation results are presented for an example voice/data scenario with a proportion of time-critical (i.e., multimedia) packet data. Time-of-expiry (TOE) based queue service disciplines are also investigated as a mechanism for improving the quality-of-service (QoS) in this scenario     

5G mobile terminals with advanced QoS-based user-centric aggregation (AQUA) for heterogeneous wireless and mobile networks

In this paper we present an advanced QoS provisioning module with vertical multi-homing framework for future fifth generation (5G) mobile terminals with radio network aggregation capability and traffic load sharing in heterogeneous mobile and wireless environments. The proposed 5G mobile terminal framework is leading to high performance utility networks with high QoS provisioning for any given multimedia service, higher bandwidth utilization and multi-RAT capabilities. It is using vertical multi-homing and virtual QoS routing algorithms within the mobile terminal, that is able to handle simultaneously multiple radio network connections via multiple wireless and mobile network interfaces. Our 5G proposal is user-centric, targeted to always-on connectivity, maximal network utilization, maximal throughput, seamless handovers and performances improvement by using vertical multi-homing, as well as session continuity. The performance of our proposed mobile terminal framework for 5G is evaluated using simulations and analysis with multimedia traffic in heterogeneous mobile and wireless scenarios with coexistence of multiple radio access technologies, such as 3G, 4G as well as future 5G radio access networks.     

Optimal network selection in heterogeneous wireless multimedia networks

The complementary characteristics of different wireless networks make it attractive to integrate a wide range of radio access technologies. Most of previous work on integrating heterogeneous wireless networks concentrates on network layer quality of service (QoS), such as blocking probability and utilization, as design criteria. However, from a user’s point of view, application layer QoS, such as multimedia distortion, is an important issue. In this paper, we propose an optimal distributed network selection scheme in heterogeneous wireless networks considering multimedia application layer QoS. Specifically, we formulate the integrated network as a restless bandit system. With this stochastic optimization formulation, the optimal network selection policy is indexable, meaning that the network with the lowest index should be selected. The proposed scheme can be applicable to both tight coupling and loose coupling scenarios in the integration of heterogeneous wireless networks. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme.     

Radio Network Aggregation for 5G Mobile Terminals in Heterogeneous Wireless and Mobile Networks

This paper provides a novel design concept for advanced mobile multi interface terminals with radio network aggregation capability and enhanced quality of service (QoS) provisioning for multimedia services (voice, video and data) in heterogeneous wireless and mobile networks. A new module is established which provides the best QoS and lowest cost for any given multimedia service by using simultaneously all available wireless and mobile access networks for a given traffic flow. This novel adaptive QoS module with adaptive QoS routing algorithm is called advanced QoS routing algorithm (AQoSRA), which is defined independently from any existing and future radio access technology. The performance of our proposal is evaluated using simulations and analysis with multi-interface mobile stations with AQoSRA within, carrying multimedia traffic in heterogeneous mobile and wireless environment with coexistence of multiple Radio Access Technologies, such as 3G, 4G as well as future 5G radio access networks. The analysis of the proposed framework for radio networks aggregation in advanced mobile terminals has shown overall better performances regarding the achievable throughput and multimedia access probability in heterogeneous wireless and mobile environment.     

Management of networks and services in a composite radio context

This article adopts the assumption that different wireless access technologies (e.g., UMTS, HIPERLAN2, and DVB-T) can be cooperating components of a composite radio infrastructure. The coordinated management of services and network in this heterogeneous context is a complex task. This article presents a service and network resource management platform for wireless systems that operate in a composite radio context. Aspects addressed are the requirements, high-level platform design, functionality of the components that conduct monitoring, resource brokerage, service management, and network resource optimization. Indicative results are presented and concluding remarks provided.     

光移动回程小蜂窝面临的挑战及解决方案

随着移动宽带服务需求不断增加,需要运营商提供更多的无线接入网络功能。LTE和小蜂窝可提供解决无限覆盖和容量的方案。然而,回程技术在CAPEX方面昂贵,运营成本及传统的解决方案无法提供必要的结合能力和成本效率。文中定义了一个Q带点对多点的回程架构,重点介绍了在构建移动回程和无线接入网络框架中提出的萨拉班德结构,其是一种具有成本效益的网络结构,可提供多千兆能结合在Q带传输一个点对多点毫米波传输技术。此外,文中除了给出网络结构的定义外,还描述了节点的密钥类型,包括萨拉班德具体结构。     

A millimeter wave broadband wireless access technology demonstratorfor the next generation Internet network reach extension

We report design and implementation scenarios for a gigabit-capacity and high-data-rate fixed wireless access technology demonstrator. The system is based on a broadband wireless access concept and implementation techniques utilizing millimeter-wave and newly introduced free-space optical wireless high-speed links. The demonstration platform is to provide broadband “last mile” access and networking solutions to Internet users in densely populated areas with homes and businesses (e.g., building-centric and inner city environments) in need of high bandwidth not served by the fiber infrastructure. The investigation focuses on the radio link design, network architecture, system integration, and a compatible interface to the existing ATM fiber and satellite core networks in support of the next-generation Internet (NGI) reach network extension by the wireless technology     

A Cross-Layer Cognitive Radio-Based Framework and CAC Scheme in WiMAX Networks

Quality of service (QoS) provisioning is an important issue in the deployment of broadband wireless access networks with real-time and non-real-time traffic integration. The Connection Admission Control (CAC) operation is essential to guarantee the QoS requirements of connections while achieving system efficiency. Cognitive Radio is seen as a solution to the current low usage of the radio spectrum and the problem of the fixed spectrum allocation. In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer Cognitive Radio-based QoS support framework and Cognitive Radio-based CAC scheme in WiMAX point-to-multipoint systems. By using a cross-layer approach, the proposed solution can intelligently explore unused spectrums and spread to non-active spectrums to improve the capacity of the system significantly and provide QoS guaranteed service to real-time traffic. A queueing analytical modeling for the WiAMX system has been carried out. The key system performance parameters are obtained based on the queueing analytical model theoretically. Extensive simulation experiments have been carried out to evaluate the performance of our proposal. The simulation results show that our proposed solution can expand the capacity of WiMAX systems up to two times while providing QoS guaranteed service to real-time and non-real-time traffics.     

固定宽带无线接入与移动宽带无线接入的比较

现今,信息通信从窄带向宽带、从有线向无线转变乃大势所趋。随着中国各运营商通信网络的迅猛发展,用户对网络的平均服务质量要求也越来越高,宽带无线接入技术作为一种有效的宽带解决方案而普遍地受到了人们的重视。那么,固定宽带无线接入与移动宽带无线接入有什么不同呢?本文首先在研究了固定宽带无线接入系统与移动宽带无线接入系统的网络结构后,重点讨论了两者的不同之处,即做了一个对比研究。希望能给相关人员有所参考。     

Efficient Radio Resource Management in Integrated WLAN/CDMA Mobile Networks

The complementary characteristics of wireless local area networks (WLANs) and wideband code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular networks make it attractive to integrate these two technologies. How to utilize the overall radio resources optimally in this heterogeneous integrated environment is a challenging issue. This paper proposes an optimal joint session admission control scheme for multimedia traffic that maximizes overall network revenue with quality of service (QoS) constraints over both WLANs and CDMA cellular networks. WLANs operate under IEEE 802.11e medium access control (MAC) protocol, which supports QoS for multimedia traffic. A cross-layer optimization approach is used in CDMA networks taking into account both physical layer linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) receivers and network layer QoS requirements. Numerical examples illustrate that the network revenue earned in the proposed joint admission control scheme is significantly more than that when the individual networks are optimized independently.     

Broadband satellite networks-the global IT bridge

Next-generation broadband satellite networks are being developed to carry bursty Internet and multimedia traffic in addition to the traditional circuit-switched traffic (mainly voice) on a global basis. These satellites provide direct network access for personal applications as well as interconnectivity to the terrestrial remote network segments. The main requirement in success of these networks is that they should be able to transmit high data rate traffic with prescribed quality of service (QoS). Thus, the broadband satellite network has no choice other than the rise of ATM technology and to be optimized for Internet-based traffic. ATM is the promising technology for supporting high-speed data transfer potentially suitable for all varieties of private and public telecommunications networks. IP, on the other hand is the fast-growing Internet layer protocol that is applicable over any data link layer Internet-based applications are the emerging source of traffic in the future wireless networks and broadband satellite networks should consider Internet as the primary service. In this paper, we discuss the traditional ATM and wireless ATM networks and explain the characteristics of the wireless IP networks. The paper then uses those concepts in defining the criteria for the broadband satellite networks such as the QoS and traffic management. Application of the broadband satellite networks is also proposed     

对发展3G和移动宽带无线接入技术的思考

固网运营商利用已经有的宽带IP网采用IEEE 802.1 6d等宽带无线接入技术从固定向移动接入演化是明智的选择,移动运营商为发挥已经有资源的效益沿3G路线演化是必然选择,但从发展的角度看移动宽带无线接入采用无连接的分组统计复用,核心网全IP化是大势所趋.文章在介绍IEEE 802.1 6d/e、CDMA2000 1 x EV-DV的基础上,探讨了移动宽带无线接入技术的发展趋势,指出目前3G无线链路向分组化演化的基本技术和IEEE 802.1 6d/e是相同的,最终将殊途同归.文章强调指出中国的TD-SCDMA应尽快向无连接的分组统计复用方向演化.     

WiMAX的自适应技术研究

IEEE802.16作为下一代网络中一种重要的宽带无线城域网接入标准,是最具有发展潜力的接入技术之一.它的系统容量大,能够支持多种业务的高速传输.为了在质量不稳定的无线信道上传输时能够保证不同业务的服务质量(QoS)要求,提高系统性能,系统广泛采用多种自适应技术.文中介绍了自适应技术的原理,重点讨论了几项关键的自适应技术,并对每一种技术给出了最新的研究成果.     

Wireless LAN access network architecture for mobile operators

The evolution of IP-based office applications has created a strong demand for public wireless broadband access technology offering capacity far beyond current cellular systems. Wireless LAN access technology provides a perfect broadband complement for the operators' existing GSM and GPRS services in an indoor environment. Most commercial public wireless LAN solutions have only modest authentication and roaming capability compared to traditional cellular networks. This article describes a new wireless LAN system architecture that combines the WLAN radio access technology with mobile operators' SIM-based subscriber management functions and roaming infrastructure. In the defined system the WLAN access is authenticated and charged using GSM SIM. This solution supports roaming between cellular and WLAN access networks and is the first step toward an all-IP network architecture. The proto-type has been implemented and publicly verified in a real mobile operator network     

Convergence of ethernet PON and IEEE 802.16 broadband access networks and its QoS-aware dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme

IEEE 802.16 and Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) are two promising broadband access technologies for high-capacity wireless access networks and wired access networks, respectively. They each can be deployed to facilitate connection between the end users and the Internet but each of them suffers from some drawbacks if operating separately. To combine the bandwidth advantage of optical networks with the mobility feature of wireless communications, we propose a convergence of EPON and 802.16 networks in this paper. First, this paper starts with presenting the converged network architecture and especially the concept of virtual ONU-BS (VOB). Then, it identifies some unique research issues in this converged network. Second, the paper investigates a dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) scheme and its closely associated research issues. This DBA scheme takes into consideration the specific features of the converged network to enable a smooth data transmission across optical and wireless networks, and an end-toend differentiated service to user traffics of diverse QoS (Quality of Service) requirements. This QoS-aware DBA scheme supports bandwidth fairness at the VOB level and class-of-service fairness at the 802.16 subscriber station level. The simulation results show that the proposed DBA scheme operates effectively and efficiently in terms of network throughput, average/maximum delay, resource utilization, service differentiation, etc.     

Overview of mobile WiMAX technology and evolution

Mobile WiMAX is a fast growing broadband access technology that enables low-cost mobile Internet applications, and realizes the convergence of mobile and fixed broadband access in a single air interface and network architecture. Mobile WiMAX combines OFDMA and advanced MIMO schemes along with flexible bandwidth and fast link adaptation, creating a highly efficient air interface that exceeds the capacity of existing and evolving 3G radio access networks. WiMAX networks, built on all-IP network architecture for plug and play network deployments, can support a mix of different usage and service models. While some consider mobile WiMAX as a candidate for the fourth generation of mobile networks, others view it as the first generation of mobile Internet technologies emerging from a wider ecosystem targeting to extend the success of WiFi over wide area networks supporting mobility. This article provides a high-level overview of mobile WiMAX technology and its evolution roadmap from both radio and network perspectives.