Signalling analysis in integrated 4G networks

Scarce radio resources and the ambition to increase the number of mobile customers with a guarantee of service are pushing mobile communication systems from homogeneous non‐service convergent 2G and convergent‐service 2.5G and 3G wireless systems to heterogeneous integrated and convergent service 4G networks. This evolution has had several consequences from network design, control and service management points of view. In the emerging integrated 4G networks one of the issues is the signalling of information related to different control purposes such as QoS, mobility and security signalling. In fact, some questions such as which are the candidate signalling protocols, and which approach of integrated signalling to be adopted (unified versus non‐unified) need to be considered in the context of the emerging 4G integrated network. This is precisely the scope of this paper. We first identify the requirements related to mobility, security/AAA and QoS signalling, then we consider candidate signalling protocols and we propose possible approaches in the integration of signalling in the context of 4G networks. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Key concepts for evolution toward beyond 3G networks

Now, when the first commercial 3G services based on Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications have been launched around the world, is the right time to start considering the evolution potential of 3G systems. It is assumed that the majority of the traffic in future mobile networks will be generated by content consumption related services, which are realized with IP technologies. Thus, it is necessary to optimize the cellular networks for carrying IP traffic as efficiently as possible. We describe an evolution scenario for the 3G network architecture specified by 3GPP. The IP delivery part of the network architecture is first optimized within each subsystem, while maintaining interoperability with the legacy network. Later, the network is streamlined as a whole to provide the most efficient solution. We show how graceful evolution of the 3GPP system can benefit from possibilities of the new technologies, especially IP-based transport, while maintaining compatibility with existing user equipment and capitalizing on existing infrastructure investments.     

Cross-layer design for resource allocation in 3G wireless networks and beyond

Cross-layer design approaches are critical for efficient utilization of the scarce radio resources with QoS provisioning in the third-generation wireless networks and beyond. Better system performance can be obtained from information exchanges across protocol layers, which may not be available in the traditional layering architecture. This article provides an overview of cross-layer design approaches for resource allocation in 3G CDMA networks, summarizes state-of-the-art research results, and suggests further research issues. In addition, a cross-layer design approach for real-time video over time-varying CDMA channels is proposed, where link layer resource allocation benefits from information in both the application and physical layers. Simulations results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Multiuser detection for cooperative networks and performance analysis

We investigate strategies for user cooperation in the uplink of a synchronous direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) network employing nonorthogonal spreading codes and analyze their performance. We consider two repetition-based relay schemes: decode-and-forward (DAF) and amplify-and-forward (AAF). Focusing on the use of linear multiuser detectors, we first present cooperation strategies, i.e., signal processing at both the relay nodes and the base station (BS), under the assumption of perfectly known channel conditions of all links; then, we consider the more practical scenario where relays and BS have only partial information about the system parameters, which requires blind multiuser detection methods. We provide performance analysis of the proposed detection strategies in terms of the (asymptotic) signal-to-(interference plus noise) ratio and the bit error rate, and we show that AAF achieves a full second-order diversity when a minimum mean-square-error detector is employed at both the relay side and the BS. A simple, yet effective, partner selection algorithm is also presented. Finally, a thorough performance assessment is undertaken to study the impact of the multiple-access interference on the proposed cooperative strategies under different scenarios and system assumptions.     

Nested cooperative encoding protocol for wireless networks with high energy efficiency

Recently, distributed space-time code designs with high cooperative diversity for wireless communication networks, such as ad hoc and sensor networks, have received much attention. Amplify forward and decoding forward are widely used protocols for the cooperative diversity in the wireless communication networks. In both protocols, the information received by relay terminals are "forwarded" to destination or next relay terminals. Since the signals transmitted by relay terminals and those transmitted from the source terminal are correlated, there is information redundancy. To improve the energy efficiency of cooperative networks, we propose an encoding protocol, which is referred to as a nested cooperative encoding protocol. In our proposed protocol, the received signal at each relay terminal is divided into several sub-signals with the nest lattice structure of source information. Each of the sub-signals contains only a partial information with a smaller size of constellation compared to the original information sent by the source terminal. Do a new encoding or modulation by using these sub-signals before transmitting at relay terminals. It is shown that the proposed new protocols can achieve both high cooperative diversity and high energy efficiency.     

Alternate energy harvesting and information relaying in cooperative AF networks

This paper studies an energy harvesting (EH) based cooperative relaying system, where two half-duplex relays operate with EH and alternately amplify and forward source data to the destination. When one relay joins in the cooperative data transmission, the other relay will harvest wireless energy by overhearing the transmissions from both the source and the transmitting relay. Both the time-switching and power-splitting architectures are considered for the EH and data reception at relays. Since the EH can be implicitly performed by each relay through listening the ongoing transmissions, more energy can be harvested for the cooperative data transmission. The outage probability and throughput of the proposed scheme are derived. Simulation results are provided to verify the correctness of our theoretical analysis and show that our scheme can significantly outperform the single-relay system in terms of throughput.     

A scalable dual-radio wireless testbed for emulating mesh networks

In this paper, we introduce and evaluate ScaleMesh, a scalable miniaturized dual-radio wireless mesh testbed based on IEEE 802.11b/g technology. ScaleMesh can emulate large-scale mesh networks within a miniaturized experimentation area by adaptively shrinking the transmission range of mesh nodes by means of variable signal attenuators. To this end, we derive a theoretical formula for approximating the attenuation level required for downscaling desired network topologies. We conduct a comprehensive performance study, in which we validate the feasibility of ScaleMesh for network emulation and protocol evaluation. Among others, we study the effect of channel selection, signal attenuation level, different topologies, and traffic load on network performance. We particularly focus on the performance of single-radio versus dual-radio communication, while investigating key parameters which can provide a substantial improvement in performance. We show that dual-radio communication improves network goodput by up to 100%, yet does not overcome TCP’s fairness problems over IEEE 802.11.     

Evolution of CAMEL Service Platform beyond 3G networks

At present time it is broadly recognized the existence of three generations of mobile telephone systems. In this work it is analysed the evolution of the three generations systems in terms of the services provided in each generation, focusing in the entity known as CAMEL (Customized Applications for Mobile Networks Enhanced Logics), which is an important platform influencing the evolution of 2G and 3G and beyond mobile telephony systems. This work starts with a general overview of mobile telephone systems, their architectures and services platforms, going further into the evolution of CAMEL that occurs together with the evolution of third generation system UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and would play an important role when the “all-IP” network and multimedia applications become part of everyday use by million of subscribers part of the mass market. CAMEL evolution is important as it is the evolution of 3G into 4G networks such as Ambient Networks, where CAMEL will be a fundamental element in order to make it easy the creation, control, and establishment of advanced and personalized services to subscribers, wherever they would be, and whenever they require the services, with full mobility and service portability, independently of the radio-access technology, the networks and the operators.     

A distributed simulation and prototyping testbed for radiocommunication networks

The authors discuss the development of a testbed, called the distributed simulation and prototyping testbed (DSPT), to model variable-connectivity radio networks. The DSPT constitutes a software environment in which distributed simulation and prototyping models of radio communication and command and control systems can easily be built. The environment consists of four separate software packages: communication simulation, communication monitor, scenario update/controller, and prototype node. These four packages work together to form a single distributed simulation and prototyping facility for communication network studies. They relieve the user from the need to consider many of the details that must be handled to implement a distributed testbed. Each package is easily extensible and can be tailored to specific networks, scenarios, monitor views, and prototyping needs     

On the energy efficiency of MIMO cooperative relaying networks

Cooperative relaying techniques can greatly improve the capacity of the multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) wireless system. The transmit power allocation (TPA) strategies for various relaying protocols have become very important for improving the energy efficiency. This article proposes novel TPA schemes in the MIMO cooperative relaying system. Two different scenarios are considered. One is the hybrid decode-and-forward (HDF) protocol in which the zero-forcing (ZF) process is operated on relays, and the other is the decode-and-forward (DF) protocol with relay node and antenna selection strategies. The simulation results indicate that the proposed schemes can bring about significant capacity gain by exploiting the nature of the relay link. Additionally, the proposed TPA scheme in the HDF system can achieve the same capacity as the equal TPA with fewer relay nodes used. Finally, the capacity gain with the proposed schemes increases when the distribution range of relay nodes expands.     

A tutorial on multiple access technologies for beyond 3G mobile networks

In this article, some fundamental technical concepts of the main multiple access schemes for wireless mobile systems are reviewed, and a path for the development of appropriate multiple access technologies for next-generation mobile networks, or so-called beyond 3G (B3G), is established. We first review the multiple access technologies in second- and third-generation wireless cellular systems from historical and technical points of view. This review is followed by a novel formulization of the multiple access schemes through mathematical expressions that could simplify the process of development of new multiple access schemes for B3G wireless cellular systems. We then list the most important features of multiple access schemes in 3G mobile systems. Finally, we conclude the article by reviewing the most promising multiple access technologies for B3G mobile cellular systems     

Power consumption analysis of video streaming in 4G LTE networks

Video streaming, one of the most popular technologies for online video playback, has already been applied to 4G LTE networks. Previous work has been devoted to understanding the power consumption in general 4G LTE networks, while it is still unclear how the online video streaming makes impact on the power performance of mobile devices. Inspired by this, this paper investigates the relationship between the mobile device’s power performance characteristics and the behaviours of video streaming in 4G LTE networks. There are many natural issues/questions that are clearly interesting and important, while it is non-trivial to answer these issues/questions exactly (e.g., where is the energy saving room? how much is it?). To address a series of issues like the above, we formulate our energy models together with an algorithm that can assist our analysis. Particularly, we design a systematic platform, and conduct a comprehensive and also deep analysis on the power consumption of video streaming in 4G LTE networks. Our experiments reveal us a series of valuable findings—the saving room in the network part is large (from 41.86 to 69.62%), the number of RRC tails and the transmission pattern could be promising for optimizing the power consumption, for example.     

Performance optimization for energy harvesting cognitive cooperative networks with imperfect spectrum sensing

Wireless Networks - In this paper, considering imperfect spectrum sensing in a cognitive cooperative system, we study the performance optimization for throughput maximization of secondary user (SU)...     

Context-aware parallel handover optimization in heterogeneous wireless networks

Annals of Telecommunications - The key idea of this paper is to a use cross-layer triggering concept in order to control the vertical handover (VHO) in heterogeneous networks. Current mobility...     

The role of high altitude platforms in beyond 3G networks

High altitude platforms represent a new alternative to terrestrial and satellite communications systems, and have gained considerable interest in the past few years due to some of their outstanding features. Of the multitude of services HAPs can provide, in this article we, focus on the potential role of HAPs in beyond 3G networks. First, a short introduction to HAPs is made. Then we discuss different hybrid system architectures with emphasis on the merits of HAPs and provide a potential mapping of services to the components of a terrestrial-HAP-satellite integrated system. We also examine critical issues that stem from the use of HAPs. Finally, the maximum uplink capacity is evaluated for a multiservice W-CDMA HAP network.     

Autonomic system for mobility support in 4G networks

Individual wireless access networks show limitations that can be overcome through the integration of different technologies into a unified platform [i.e., fourth-generation (4G) system]. Nevertheless, the integration of heterogeneous networks poses many challenges such as adding complexity to the processes of deciding when to handoff, selecting the best network, and minimizing roaming effects using appropriate handover methods. This paper presents PROTON, a novel solution that supports decision-making processes related to roaming between heterogeneous technologies. PROTON deploys a formal policy representation model, based on finite-state transducers, that evaluates policies using information from the context to manage mobiles' behavior in a transparent manner, hiding 4G systems' complexities. We blend concepts of autonomic computing into the design of the solution and manage to improve user experience in typical 4G scenarios, while keeping transparency.     

Context-aware wireless sensor networks for assisted living and residential monitoring

Improving the quality of healthcare and the prospects of "aging in place" using wireless sensor technology requires solving difficult problems in scale, energy management, data access, security, and privacy. We present AlarmNet, a novel system for assisted living and residential monitoring that uses a two-way flow of data and analysis between the front- and back-ends to enable context-aware protocols that are tailored to residents' individual patterns of living. AlarmNet integrates environmental, physiological, and activity sensors in a scalable heterogeneous architecture. The SenQ query protocol provides real-time access to data and lightweight in-network processing. Circadian activity rhythm analysis learns resident activity patterns and feeds them back into the network to aid context-aware power management and dynamic privacy policies.     

Dynamic network composition for beyond 3G networks: a 3GPP viewpoint

The 3GPP network specification is currently undergoing major updates toward beyond 3G. The evolved 3GPP network will support interworking with multiple including non-3GPP - radio access networks, and support mobility between them. It will furthermore support personal area networks and moving networks. Generally, 3GPP is moving in the direction of an all-IP network. This article gives an overview of current beyond 3G trends in 3GPP, and particularly introduces a new 3GPP study item on network composition. The concept of network composition was developed by the EU project Ambient Networks. Whereas 3GPP until now assumes static networking relations, network composition addresses a dynamic, generic establishment of control-plane interworking between the heterogeneous network types of today, such as 3GPP core networks, non-3GPP operator networks, heterogeneous access networks, and personal area networks     

Tackling electrosmog in completely configured 3G networks by parallel cooperative meta-heuristics

The high quality standards required by third-generation systems can be reached only by way of a careful tuning of all the parameters of antenna configurations. However, concerns about exposure to electromagnetic fields should also be taken into account when designing telecommunication networks. In this article we investigate how parallel cooperative meta-heuristics provide the means to achieve both goals: devising a complete network configuration that meets coverage and service quality constraints, and minimizing electromagnetic field levels