An improved mechanism for multiple MBMS sessions assignment in B3G cellular networks

In Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), the downlink capacity is limited by the base station transmission power. Therefore, power control plays an important role to minimize the transmitted power shared among unicast and multicast users within a cell. In Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS), power control targets to the efficient utilization of radio and network resources. However, the expected high demand for such services stresses the need for an efficient scheme, capable of dynamically allocating radio resources to parallel MBMS sessions. This paper proposes a power control mechanism for efficient MBMS session assignment in next generation UMTS networks. The mechanism shares efficiently the available power resources of UMTS base stations to MBMS sessions running in the network. Furthermore, the mechanism is evaluated through several realistic scenarios and the results indicate the ability of the mechanism to utilize efficiently the radio resources and to ensure the service continuity when parallel MBMS services run in the network. Our approach is compared with current 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approaches, such as these presented in TS 25.346 and in TR 25.922, in order to highlight the enhancements that it provides.     

Cost analysis and efficient radio bearer selection for multicasting over UMTS

Along with the widespread deployment of the Third Generation (3G) cellular networks, the fast‐improving capabilities of the mobile devices, content, and service providers are increasingly interested in supporting multicast communications over wireless networks and in particular over Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). To this direction, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently standardizing the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) framework of UMTS. In this paper, we present an overview of the MBMS multicast mode of UMTS. We analytically present the multicast mode of the MBMS and analyze its performance in terms of packet delivery cost under various network topologies, cell types, and multicast users' distributions. Furthermore, for the evaluation of the scheme, we consider different transport channels for the transmission of the multicast data over the UMTS Terrestrial Radio‐Access Network (UTRAN) interfaces. Finally, we propose a scheme for the efficient radio bearer selection that minimizes total packet delivery cost. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An improved MBMS power counting mechanism towards long term evolution

One of the key objectives of beyond 3rd generation mobile networks is the realization of enhanced end-user experience through the provision of rich multimedia services. Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) framework epitomizes the increasing popularity of such applications and is envisaged to play an instrumental role for the Long Term Evolution (LTE) proliferation in mobile market. For exploiting resource efficiency, MBMS specifications consider the Counting Mechanism which decides whether it is more efficient to deliver MBMS multicast traffic over Point-to-Point (PTP) or Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) bearers. However, the necessity to further improve MBMS resource efficiency and integrate new technologies in the frame of LTE stresses the need for an advanced Counting Mechanism. In this work we propose a novel Power Counting Mechanism for efficient selection of MBMS bearers. The proposed mechanism optimally utilizes power resources and exploits broadband characteristics and performance enhancements emerged from Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas used in LTE networks.     

Satellite radio interface and radio resource management strategy for the delivery of multicast/broadcast services via an integrated satellite-terrestrial system

A variety of hybrid systems combining third-generation mobile communication networks with broadcast systems have been proposed for the delivery of multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) to mobile users. The article discusses one of these alternatives, which involves the use of a geostationary satellite component for MBMS delivery. In particular, it proposes a radio access scheme for the satellite component of the system that features maximum commonalities with the standardized T-UMTS WCDMA-based interface. The ultimate advantages of this approach are more efficient delivery of MBMS as far as the mobile network operator is concerned. The required adaptations at the interface layers are described, and the radio resource management strategy that fulfills the particular requirements of the satellite system is presented.     

基于MBMS的手机电视技术

多媒体广播组播业务(MBMS)是3GPP Release 6版本中引入的一项重大功能,目的在于节省系统资源,为用户提供广播或者组播的分组数据业务.作为一种具体的MBMS应用,手机电视技术在3G业务中占有重要的地位.文中介绍了多媒体广播和组播技术(MBMS),包括MBMS的网络结构、业务流程以及基于TD-SCDMA的MBMS系统架构,对LTE中的E-MBMS技术进行了初步研究,并从逻辑结构、业务模式和信道结构等方面简单分析了从MBMS到E-MBMS的演进.     

Effective Radio Resource Management for MBMS in UMTS Networks

Broadcast and multicast offer a significant improvement of spectrum utilization, and becomes particularly important where information channels are shared among several users. Mobile cellular environments are expected to evolve with the technological approaches necessary to facilitate the deployment of multimedia services, such as streaming, file download and carousel services. The perspective that video streaming in wireless networks services is an attractive service to end-users has spurred the research in this area. To provide for a video delivery platform in UMTS, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) addressed this problem with the introduction of the Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Services (MBMS) in 3GPP Release 6. In this document we analyse several effective radio resource management techniques to provide MBMS, namely, use of non-uniform QAM constellations, multi-code and macro-diversity to guarantee the optimal distribution of QoS depending on the location of mobiles.     

The multimedia broadcast/multicast service

This article provides an overview of the multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) for universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) networks. We first outline the features of UMTS networks as defined by the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) in order to provide a background for the discussion to follow. We then present the overall MBMS architecture, the services that it provides to the users and the differences between the broadcast and multicast options. The implementation details of MBMS are explained in terms of the modifications needed to the network, the new signaling procedures required and the impact of MBMS on the radio part of the network. We then describe how the security architecture of UMTS is used to support content protection and key distribution for MBMS groups. We evaluate the prospects of MBMS by comparing it first with IP multicast and then with DVB‐H, considered by many to be the closest competitor of MBMS. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the technical and business challenges still faced by MBMS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Embracing RaptorQ FEC in 3GPP multicast services

Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) have been introduced by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) aiming to efficiently deliver data to mobile users in a one-to-many way. In order to provide reliable multicast transmission, 3GPP recommends exclusively for MBMS the use of a Forward Error Correction (FEC) mechanism on the application layer. Raptor codes are standardized as the Application Layer FEC (AL-FEC) scheme over 3GPP MBMS. However, the 3GPP standardized systematic fountain Raptor code is nowadays considered obsolete, since a new variation of the Raptor codes has emerged. This enhanced AL-FEC scheme, named RaptorQ, promises higher protection efficiency and superior flexibility on the provision of demanding mobile multicast services. In this work, we provide an extensive performance evaluation presenting at first a theoretical performance comparison of the newly introduced RaptorQ FEC scheme with its predecessor Raptor code, examining the enhancements that RaptorQ introduces on the AL-FEC protection robustness. Thereafter, to verify the enhanced performance of RaptorQ, we present several simulation results considering the modeling of the AL-FEC protection over multicast services for next generation mobile networks, utilizing the ns-3 simulation environment. Investigating several mobile system parameters in conjunction with FEC encoding parameters, we provide valuable results regarding the impacts of the examined AL-FEC schemes application on the multicast services performance.     

Wireless video applications in 3G and beyond

This article surveys wireless video applications that have been commercialized recently or are expected to go to market in 3G (and beyond) mobile networks, mainly covering error control technologies in view of "wireless video." We introduce several related 3GPP standards including circuit-switched multimedia telephony, end-to-end packet-switched streaming, multimedia messaging service, and multimedia broadcast /multimedia service. We also review the supporting technologies for those four applications. The article concludes with a discussion of error control and rate control adaptability to network QoS variation, which is distinct from wired networks and critical to wireless networks. With respect to MBMS, we point out that required cell transmission power is crucial when realizing meaningful multicast coverage, and suggest a system that integrates different unicast and multicast networks, application-layer data repair, and transmission scheduling.     

Multicast Broadcast Services Support in OFDMA-Based WiMAX Systems [Advances in Mobile Multimedia]

Multimedia stream service provided by broadband wireless networks has emerged as an important technology and has attracted much attention. An all-IP network architecture with reliable high-throughput air interface makes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA)-based mobile worldwide interoperability for microwave access (mobile WiMAX) a viable technology for wireless multimedia services, such as voice over IP (VoIP), mobile TV, and so on. One of the main features in a WiMAX MAC layer is that it can provide'differentiated services among different traffic categories with individual QoS requirements. In this article, we first give an overview of the key aspects of WiMAX and describe multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) architecture of the 3GPP. Then, we propose a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) architecture for WiMAX that is based on MBMS. Moreover, we enhance the MBS architecture for mobile WiMAX to overcome the shortcoming of limited video broadcast performance over the baseline MBS model. We also give examples to demonstrate that the proposed architecture can support better mobility and offer higher power efficiency.     

MBMS密钥分发过程研究

移动多媒体业务是3G的关键业务,3GPP R6版本中引入多媒体广播组播业务MBMS(Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service).业务安全在多媒体广播组播业务中至关重要,文中给出了3GPP中MBMS的密钥管理体系和基于GBA的MBMS业务安全体系架构,并分析了MBMS密钥分发的具体实现流程.     

Application layer forward error correction for multicast streaming over LTE networks

The next step beyond third generation mobile networks is the Third Generation Partnership Project standard, named Long Term Evolution. A key feature of Long Term Evolution is the enhancement of multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS), where the same content is transmitted to multiple users located in a specific service area. To support efficient download and streaming delivery, the Third Generation Partnership Project included an application layer forward error correction (AL‐FEC) technique based on the systematic fountain Raptor code, in the MBMS standard. To achieve protection against packet losses, Raptor codes introduce redundant packets to the transmission, that is, the forward error correction overhead. In this work, we investigate the application of AL‐FEC over MBMS streaming services. We consider the benefits of AL‐FEC for a continuous multimedia stream transmission to multiple users and we examine how the amount of forward error correction redundancy can be adjusted under different packet loss conditions. For this purpose, we present a variety of realistic simulation scenarios for the application of AL‐FEC and furthermore we provide an in‐depth analysis of Raptor codes performance introducing valuable suggestions to achieve efficient use of Raptor codes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Convergence of Broadcast and New Telecom Networks

The demand of the new telecom industry for cost efficient provision of mobile multimedia services is faced with the reality of scarce radio resources. The requirement of spectrum efficiency has driven the development of various digital radio technologies that have been optimized for specific services, namely for broadcast or for mobile communication. However, existing and emerging multimedia services exhibit challenging requirements in terms of asymmetry, interactivity, real-time, and multicast communication. This paper describes an IP based multi-radio infrastructure that enables the co-operation of existing radio networks to combine their capabilities to ensure a spectrum efficient provision of high-quality mobile multimedia services. Further the need for a dynamic allocation of spectrum to radio services is motivated. The basic functionality and the architecture of a multi-radio system is outlined, with a special emphasis on the cooperation between different radio systems. Further an evolution path for the convergence of broadcast and new telecom is desribed, starting from today's systems and leading to a fully coordinated system.     

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Performance and its Enhancements in WCDMA Networks

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) networks is used to transmit information from one source to vast amount of recipients. The MBMS technique eases the load of the network and therefore allows network to serve more subscribers. The very aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of Release 6 MBMS and its performance enhancements in WCDMA networks. Special attention will be focused on macro and receive diversity which are considered in addition to time diversity provided by long interleaving as enhancements on MBMS performance. 3GPP Release 6 specifications for MBMS introduce two macro diversity schemes: soft and selective combining. The effect of those combining scheme concepts together with and without receive diversity provided by multiple receive antennas are examined. Also, a concept closely related to the receive diversity called Rx-switching i.e., turning the another receive antenna off in good channel situations for power saving purposes is studied. The system level performance of MBMS point-to-multipoint (p-t-m) mode is evaluated with dynamic system level tool in which e.g., mobility of users and interactions of the radio resource management functionalities are explicitly taken into account. Our studies indicate that macro diversity brings significant gains to the MBMS performance. Receive diversity together with macro diversity schemes improves the performance even more and therefore enhances the cell throughput that MBMS can offer. Furthermore, based on the findings of this study it seems that 2Rx Rake receiver can operate with a single antenna significant amount of time without sacrificing desired coverage and thus provide clear power saving opportunities.

An access-aware pricing strategy for the evolved packet system

The evolved packet system (EPS) integrates third generation partnership project (3GPP) and non-3GPP wireless access networks to provide mobile users with ubiquitous access to a diverse set of multimedia services. As we know, 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks differ significantly with respect to bandwidth capacity, coverage range, and service cost. It is crucial to enable efficient load balancing between 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks to improve resource utilization, and still maximize revenue generation. From an economic point of view, pricing plays an important role in achieving load balancing in the EPS. This paper proposes an access-aware pricing strategy for the EPS to achieve load balancing between 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks and to maximize revenue generation for network operators. In addition, this paper develops an analytical model for the system using the proposed access-aware pricing strategy. With the analytical model, this paper also proposes an iterative method for determining the optimal pricing that maximizes revenue generation in the EPS. The analytical model is verified by simulation.     

CAC-RD: an UMTS call admission control

The third wireless network generation (3G) aims to provide fast Internet access with quality of service (QoS) guarantees, especially to multimedia applications. UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) is a kind of 3G networks. To provide QoS, the network must use an efficient admission control mechanism. This mechanism needs to prioritize network access to critical classes of applications. This work proposes an UMTS admission control mechanism, called CAC-RD (Call Admission Control—based on Reservation and Diagnosis). It is based on network diagnosis and on channel reservation for handovers. These techniques are associated with new calls blocking when the network reaches utilization thresholds. CAC-RD is a tool that prioritises handovers and conversational applications. The main CAC-RD goals are the handovers blocking reduction and the acceptable performance levels guarantee. Simulation results show that the CAC-RD channel reservation and the diagnosis techniques associated with the intrinsic network signal power control effectively reduces blockings while guarantying performance levels. Due to computational resource limits, simulations cannot answer related to admission control in big networks with thousands of users. This work presents a method to extrapolate scientific questions like CAC’s behavior with thousands of users and many antennas. An artificial neural network approach for CAC-RD in UMTS 3G networks is presented as an extension of the work.     

A new 4G architecture providing multimode terminals always best connected services

In recent years, wireless communication technology has undergone a tremendous change. Various radio access technologies have been deployed all over the world. The 4G mobile system was proposed to integrate all of these radio access technologies into a common network called the open wireless architecture (OWA) platform. As one of the main features of a 4G mobile system, always best connected (ABC) services enable users to choose the best available access networks in a way that best suits their needs. A new architecture capable of supporting ABC service is proposed in this study. There are three parts to the proposed architecture. First, a novel access discovery mechanism that integrates service location protocol and location-based service is presented. Second, a new personalized network selection scheme is put forward. Users can select their personalized "best" network by changing weight factors and constraints in a single objective optimization problem. Third, a seamless handover mechanism based on Mobile IPv6 is proposed. The mechanism supports end-to-end quality of service. Through analysis, this architecture demonstrates that it has benefits not only for network operators, but also for users     

Mobile Multimedia Services

Mobile multimedia has been a goal for technologists and the mobile industry alike for some time, but now many components are coming together to make mobile multimedia a reality — mobile data networks, devices with colour screens, multimedia content, etc. This paper reviews the vision for mobile multimedia and describes a roadmap for its deployment, beginning in the here and now with SMS-based services and culminating in 3G services complemented by wireless LAN hot-spots. Since mobile technology alone cannot realise mobile multimedia, later sections of this paper also consider the importance of appropriate business models, value chains and billing. Some challenges to mobile multimedia are also discussed and some potential solutions and developments that may help to overcome them. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于动态信道预约的自适应QoS切换算法

未来无线网络将为固定和移动用户提供多媒体通信和计算业务．为移动用户提供无线多媒体业务的一个最关键的挑战是保证端到端连接的业务质量．通过重复使用无线频谱的微蜂窝或微微蜂窝结构是一个有前途的改善移动多媒体网络容量的方式．但切换次数随着蜂窝大小的降低而增加．移动多媒体网络的一个至关重要的问题是需要可以满足各种QoS需要且有更高资源利用率的有效切换方式．该文提出了一种称为基于动态信道预约的自适应QoS切换算法,并与其它切换方式进行了性能比较．     

The Role of HAPs in Supporting Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Services in Terrestrial-Satellite Integrated Systems

New-generation telecommunications systems are expected to meet the rising user exigencies of mobility and ubiquitous access to multimedia services. As a consequence, 3GPP consortium has introduced the Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) concept into 3G/beyond-3G networks. Supporting MBMS in next generation hybrid wireless platforms becomes a challenging issue due to high traffic load deriving from both signaling message exchange and data transmission between multicast sources (BM-SC) and end users. Therefore, in this context, key research issues are surely: effective exploitation of the limited radio spectrums available, coordination of users accessing radio resources, as well as provisioning of desired QoS guarantees. Given the high mobility profiles typical of UMTS users, it clearly appears that the cited target performance can only be achieved through networking solutions based on an overlapped terrestrial-HAP-satellite coverage. An inter-working scenario where HAPs operate in synergy with the UMTS terrestrial and satellite segments seems to be the most promising solution to provide mobile users with MBMS services. Our work, dealing with architectural design options, takes into account many metrics relevant to aspects, such as: frequency allocation, costs in terms of resource utilization, signaling traffic load, number and location of customers, reliability, possible retransmission paths, user mobility, and QoS.Giuseppe Araniti received a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, in 2000. He received the Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering from the same University, in March 2004. He is currently a junior researcher at the D.I.M.E.T., of the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy. His major area of research is the traffic and resource management in third and fourth generation mobile radio systems.Antonio Iera graduated in Computer Engineering at the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1991 and received a Master Diploma in Information Technology from CEFRIEL, Italy, in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1996.Since 1997 he has been with the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, first as an Assistant Professor and then as an Associate Professor. Currently, he is Professor at the same University. His research interests include Personal Communications Systems, Enhanced Wireless and Satellite Systems.Antonella Molinaro received a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1991, a Master degree in Information Technology from CEFRIEL, Italy, in 1992, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1996. Since 1998 she has been an Assistent Professor first at the University of Messina and then at the University of Calabria. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy. Her interests include mobile radio systems and inter-working wireless-wired networks.