Building networks on the fly [cellular radio]

In this paper, the author describes how, in order to communicate digitally, anywhere, any time, cell phones and other devices need built in connectivity, or discovery, software that works automatically over all sorts of networks     

Spectrum efficiency in cellular [radio]

The spectrum efficiency in cellular radio systems can be measured by a parameter that is called radio capacity. Using radio capacity, it is shown that splitting analog channels does not increase the spectrum efficiency in cellular radio systems, but that using digital cellular channels does. A simple evaluation method for judging spectrum efficiency in different digital systems is introduced. Also, several new concepts of spectrum efficiency in cellular radio systems are described     

Cognitive radio communications and networks [guest editorial]

The seven articles focus on the feature topic of cognitive radio communications and networks. The articles are summarized here.     

A model for analyzing handoff algorithms [cellular radio]

A model for analyzing the performance of handoff algorithms based on signal strength measurements made by mobile stations in a lognormal fading environment is presented. This model enables one to evaluate the effect of averaging the hysteresis on the handoff process. Handoffs are related to level crossings of the difference between the received signal strengths from two base stations. The algorithm performance is derived by modeling the level crossings as Poisson processes with time-varying rate functions. The model is seen to yield results that agree with simulations over the range of algorithm parameters of practical interest. These results can be used to determine the averaging interval and hysteresis level that achieve the optimum tradeoff between the number of unnecessary handoffs and the delay in handing off     

Toward secure distributed spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks [cognitive radio communications and networks]

Cognitive radio is a revolutionary technology that promises to alleviate the spectrum shortage problem and to bring about remarkable improvement in spectrum utilization. Spectrum sensing is one of the essential mechanisms of CR and is an active area of research. Although the operational aspects of spectrum sensing are being studied actively, its security aspects have attracted very little attention. In this paper, we discuss security issues that may pose a serious threat to spectrum sensing. Specifically, we focus on two security threats - incumbent emulation and spectrum sensing data falsification - that may wreak havoc in distributed spectrum sensing. We also discuss methods for countering these threats and the technical hurdles that must be overcome to implement such countermeasures.     

A survey on spectrum management in cognitive radio networks [cognitive radio communications and networks]

Cognitive radio networks will provide high bandwidth to mobile users via heterogeneous wireless architectures and dynamic spectrum access techniques. However, CR networks impose challenges due to the fluctuating nature of the available spectrum, as well as the diverse QoS requirements of various applications. Spectrum management functions can address these challenges for the realization of this new network paradigm. To provide a better understanding of CR networks, this article presents recent developments and open research issues in spectrum management in CR networks. More specifically, the discussion is focused on the development of CR networks that require no modification of existing networks. First, a brief overview of cognitive radio and the CR network architecture is provided. Then four main challenges of spectrum management are discussed: spectrum sensing, spectrum decision, spectrum sharing, and spectrum mobility.     

Fuzzy logic for cross-layer optimization in cognitive radio networks [cognitive radio communications and networks]

The search for the ultimate architecture for cross-layer optimization in cognitive radio networks is characterized by challenges such as modularity, interpretability, imprecision, scalability, and complexity constraints. In this article we propose fuzzy logic as an effective means of meeting these challenges, as far as both knowledge representation and control implementation are concerned.     

Channel assignment in cellular radio networks

The authors investigate algorithms based on simulated annealing to solve the channel assignment problem for cellular radio networks. The blocking probability of a network is chosen as the optimization criterion. In order to check the quality of the solutions obtained by simulated annealing, they examine some special types of networks which allow an effective calculation of optimal solutions by tailored algorithms. Their investigations show that simulated annealing is a very powerful tool for solving channel assignment problems     

Planning effective cellular mobile radio networks

This paper deals with the automatic selection and configuration of base station sites for mobile cellular networks. An optimization framework based on simulated annealing is used for site selection and for base-station configuration. Realistic path-loss estimates incorporating terrain data are used. The configuration of each base station involves selecting antenna type, power control, azimuth, and tilt. Results are presented for several design scenarios with between 250 and 750 candidate sites and show that the optimization framework can generate network designs with desired characteristics such as high area coverage and high traffic capacity. The work shows that cellular network design problems are tractable for realistic problem instances     

Primary user behavior in cellular networks and implications for dynamic spectrum access - [Topics in radio communications]

Dynamic spectrum access approaches, which propose to opportunistically use underutilized portions of licensed wireless spectrum such as cellular bands, are increasingly being seen as a way to alleviate spectrum scarcity. However, before DSA approaches can be enabled, it is important that we understand the dynamics of spectrum usage in licensed bands. Our focus in this article is the cellular band. Using a unique dataset collected inside a cellular network operator, we analyze the usage in cellular bands and discuss the implications of our results on enabling DSA in these bands. One of the key aspects of our dataset is its scale-it consists of data collected over three weeks at hundreds of base stations. We dissect this data along different dimensions to characterize if and when spectrum is available, develop models of primary usage, and understand the implications of these results on DSA techniques such as sensing.     

Enhanced estimation of configuration capabilities in cognitive radio [cognitive radio communications and networks]

Cognitive radio is a highly promising answer to the complexity and heterogeneity characterizing the beyond 3G wireless scenario. In this context, this article advances from the field of interference sensing to the fields of (basic) reasoning and robust reasoning. Interference sensing is concerned with the acquisition of interference related measurements for frequency bands of interest. The article describes how a cognitive radio system can reason on these measurements to obtain estimations for the capabilities of alternate configurations, especially in terms of achievable transmission capacity and coverage. Subsequently, it focuses on robust reasoning, namely, on enhancing these estimations by employing machine learning, which constitutes an important aspect of cognitive radio. Several relevant solutions are sketched and explained, with a view to providing a complete picture.     

Handover in multihop cellular networks [Accepted from Open Call]

This article introduces various handover scenarios in multihop cellular networks. In addition, this article presents handover schemes where relay stations are located either inside a cell or on the boundary between two adjacent cells and investigates the effects of the deployment position of relay stations to handover performance. The simulation results show that multihop cellular networks for both deployment scenarios can achieve 90 percent throughput increase over single-hop cellular networks. The results also show that the overall throughput of the multihop cellular networks with relay stations inside a cell is higher than for those with relay stations on the boundary between two adjacent cells, whereas the opposite is observed for the throughput of cell-boundary users. The intercell handover latency in multihop cellular networks is increased by 20 ~ 56 percent compared with that in singlehop cellular networks because of the increased number of handovers and signaling overhead. However, by deploying relay stations on the boundary between two adjacent cells, the service-interruption time caused by inter-cell handover is reduced by 80 percent compared with that of single-hop cellular networks.     

Car talk - [update]

Under pressure to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, the European Union has spawned a batch of projects to give cars the ability to communicate wirelessly with the road and among themselves. The effort, similar to some in Japan and the United States, has reached a major milestone following a June EU ruling that set aside RF spectrum for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Those developing car- and road-communications systems will begin testing their wares this fall ahead of large-scale road trials at six sites in Europe, which will begin in early 2009. Experts expect the technologies to begin commercial deployment as soon as 2011.     

Location tracking of mobiles in cellular radio networks

Some useful services in cellular radio networks and also a class of handover algorithms require knowledge of the present position and velocity of mobiles. This paper deals with a method to track mobiles by on-line monitoring of field strength data of surrounding base stations at successive time points. Such data is available in present global system for mobile communication (GSM) systems each 0.48 s and also in code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems for transmission control. Because of strong random fluctuations of the signals, appropriate smoothing is the key point of the procedure. We develop a locally linear prediction model of successive positions as a basis for Kalman filtering. This approach turns out to be extremely successful, achieving average mislocations of 70 m in simulated test runs. Further improvement is possible by using external geographical information     

Interoperability between WiMAXand broadband mobile space networks [topics in radio communications]

In several countries manufacturers, operators, and public authorities look at WiMAX system as a viable technology to fill the "digital divide," providing broadband services mainly in suburban and rural areas, but also in densely populated areas. Nevertheless, as a standalone system it will never offer global services, and to complement its capabilities, the utilization of broadband space-based access shared among users represents a scalable and cost-effective solution to offer wider area coverage, improved performance in terms of QoS, service continuity in case of terrestrial network failure, and long-range user mobility. Integration between WiMAX and a space-based infrastructure, composed of a combination of satellites and high altitude platforms, can be pursued in several ways. The simplest solution is based on connecting a WiMAX network by means of a terrestrial network terminating at a hub station connected to the space infrastructure. A more flexible solution should allow the WiMAX subscriber station or base station to directly access the space infrastructure. This article addresses the identification of suitable scenarios and a feasibility analysis presenting link budget results related to a subset of the identified solutions.     

Spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks: requirements, challenges and design trade-offs [cognitive radio communications]

Opportunistic unlicensed access to the (temporarily) unused frequency bands across the licensed radio spectrum is currently being investigated as a means to increase the efficiency of spectrum usage. Such opportunistic access calls for implementation of safeguards so that ongoing licensed operations are not compromised. Among different candidates, sensing-based access, where the unlicensed users transmit if they sense the licensed band to be free, is particularly appealing due to its low deployment cost and its compatibility with the legacy licensed systems. The ability to reliably and autonomously identify unused frequency bands is envisaged as one of the main functionalities of cognitive radios. In this article we provide an overview of the regulatory requirements and major challenges associated with the practical implementation of spectrum sensing functionality in cognitive radio systems. Furthermore, we outline different design trade-offs that have to be made in order to enhance various aspects of the system's performance.     

Optimum positioning of base stations for cellular radio networks

Finding optimum base station locations for a cellular radio network is considered as a mathematical optimization problem. Dependent on the channel assignment policy, the minimization of interferences or the number of blocked channels, respectively, may be more favourable. In this paper, a variety of according analytical optimization problems are introduced. Each is formalized as an integer linear program, and in most cases optimum solutions can be given. Whenever by the complexity of the problem an exact solution is out of reach, simulated annealing is used as an approximate optimization technique. The performance of the different approaches is compared by extensive numerical tests. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cognitive functionality in next generation wireless networks: standardization efforts [cognitive radio communications]

This article discusses recent standardization efforts related to cognitive radio focusing on the work of IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee 41, formerly known as IEEE 1900. Some important tasks to be performed by the CR standardization community also are presented. These tasks will expedite the introduction of CR devices to the market while promoting a fair use of scarce radio resources. Some avenues for using the currently available standards for rapid deployment of CR devices, such as ISO standards, also are discussed.     

超密集异构蜂窝网多维资源联合优化算法

作为5G的关键技术,超密集组网(UDN)可以大幅度提高网络容量和用户体验,但其性能严重受限于小区间干扰。针对超密集异构蜂窝网络的无线资源高效管理问题,提出了一种多维无线资源联合分配算法。为了在保障用户服务质量的前提下,最大化系统能效,将时频资源与功率资源的最优分配问题建模为有约束的组合优化问题。由于这是一个NP-hard问题,求解比较困难。因此,采用分步优化+迭代搜索策略：首先基于模拟退火算法进行时频资源优化分配,并引入粒子删减和回火升温过程以提高搜索速度和避免落入局部最优陷阱;然后采用拉格朗日乘子法进行功率最优分配;最后,通过多次迭代,逼近全局最优解。仿真结果表明,提出的联合资源分配算法能够保障用户间的公平性并且有效提高系统能效与网络吞吐量,同时具有更快的收敛速度和更高的收敛精确度。