Mobile users and applications are putting pressure on wireless network operators to improve the seamless handover of devices and services. Strong business competition for subscribers, along with the ever increasing availability of wireless networks will give nomadic and mobile users the opportunity, and systems the power, to make better handover decisions. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the literature on mobility management architectures for seamless handover of mobile users in heterogeneous networks. We describe the design rationale for selected architectures, with an in-depth analysis of their main goals, assumptions, and requirements. We also provide directions for further work in this field by highlighting the mandatory requirements and the features of future architectures. We then present a new architecture called Context-Aware Mobility Management System (CAMMS). CAMMS is a new cross-layer, context-aware and interactive approach to seamless handover of users and services. With that proposal, we identified the essential functional entities that must be part of future architectures.

Vertical Mobility Management Architectures in Wireless Networks: A Comprehensive Survey and Future Directions

In this paper, an innovative mechanism to perform joint radio resource management (JRRM) in the context of heterogeneous radio access networks is introduced. In particular, a fuzzy neural algorithm that is able to ensure certain quality-of-service (QoS) constraints in a multicell scenario deployment with three different radio access technologies (RATs), namely, the wireless local area network (WLAN), the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), and the global system for mobile communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) radio access network (GERAN), is discussed. The proposed fuzzy neural JRRM algorithm is able to jointly manage the common available radio resources operating in two steps. The first step selects a suitable combination of cells built around the three available RATs, while the second step chooses the most appropriate RAT to which a user should be attached. A proper granted bit rate is also selected for each user in the second step. Different implementations are presented and compared, showing that the envisaged fuzzy neural methodology framework, which is able to cope with the complexities and uncertainties of heterogeneous scenarios, could be a promising choice. Furthermore, simulation results show that the reinforcement learning mechanisms introduced in the proposed JRRM methodology allow guaranteeing the QoS requirement in terms of the so-called user dissatisfaction probability in the presence of different traffic loads and under different dynamic situations. Also, the proposed framework is able to take into consideration different operator policies as well as different subjective criteria by means of a multiple decision-making mechanism, such as balancing the traffic among the RATs or giving more priority to the selection of one RAT in front of another one.

A Novel Approach for Joint Radio Resource Management Based on Fuzzy Neural Methodology

This paper presents a comprehensive framework to develop joint RRM (radio resource management) strategies taking full advantage of the reconfigurable equipment capabilities and the diversity offered by available RATs (radio access technologies) in a multi-radio environment. The envisaged JRRM treatment calls for establishing links with all the entities involved, first at functional level, identifying realistic scenarios in terms of deployment, technologies and services, and managing the emerging complexity with proper algorithms. Then, a fuzzy-neural methodology framework able to cope with the complexities and uncertainties these new scenarios rise is presented. In particular both technical and economical aspects are considered when selecting a particular RAT. Finally some significant examples of the algorithm behaviour are shown.

A fuzzy-neural based approach for joint radio resource management in a beyond 3G framework

The remarkable advances in information technologies bring a heterogeneous environment for mobile users and service providers. This heterogeneity exists in wireless access technologies, networks, user terminals, applications, service providers, and so on. The ability to provide seamless and adaptive quality of service in such a heterogeneous environment is key to the success of next-generation wireless communications systems. There has been a considerable amount of QoS research recently. However, the main part of this research has been in the context of individual architectural components, and much less progress has been made in addressing the issue of an overall QoS architecture for the mobile Internet. This article first summarizes the state-of-the-art QoS techniques and standardization activities, then examines in detail important challenges in building a ubiquitous QoS framework over the heterogeneous environment, and finally proposes a QoS framework integrating a three-plane network infrastructure and a unified terminal cross-layer adaptation platform to provide seamless support for future applications.

End-to-end QoS provisioning in mobile heterogeneous networks

This paper presents a novel JRRM strategy based on reinforcement learning mechanisms that control a fuzzy-neural algorithm to ensure certain QoS constraints. Three RATs (radio access technologies), namely UMTS, GERAN and WLAN are considered as common available technologies to select. The fuzzy logic allows for a very simple handling of the joint radio resource manager simply by activating a set of rules. The membership functions considered by these rules are adaptive so that a desired performance in terms of the probability of user satisfaction can be guaranteed by means of the reinforcement learning algorithm. Some illustrative simulation results to evaluate the behaviour of the proposed JRRM technique are presented.

A novel joint radio resource management approach with reinforcement learning mechanisms

This article describes a global QoS architecture for multimedia traffic in mobile heterogeneous environments. This architecture supports both multiple access networks and multiple service provider scenarios. The architecture is able to provide QoS per user and per service, implementing the notion of a user profile associated network management in the case of heterogeneous and mobile network access is presented based on cooperative association between QoS brokers and authentication, authorization, accounting, and charging systems. The overall exchange of messages is exemplified for the case of a field test with specific optimizations for voice traffic.

An IP-based QoS architecture for 4G operator scenarios

http://caia.swin.edu.au/cv/szander/publications/comcom05.pdf

The 'pure-IP' Moby Dick 4G architecture

In this article new architectures for network- assisted management of vertical handovers are proposed, relying on IP-based protocols, aiming at achieving the most relevant intersystem mobility decision with respect to user satisfaction and operator added value. The key design principle used is ease of deployment, with flexible hierarchical handover decision entities allowing the distribution of the decision process across local and global levels. The decision itself relies on a broad set of parameters at the radio, networking, application, user preferences, and operator policies levels. The advantage of the approach is highlighted in the specific cellular/WLAN scenario, and a proof-of-concept testbed has enabled to validate it. Standardization in this area is currently ongoing in 3GPP, IEEE, and IETF.

Architectures for IP-based network-assisted mobility management across heterogeneous networks

This paper describes an architecture for differentiation of Quality of Service in heterogeneous wireless-wired networks This architecture applies an "all-IP" paradigm, with embedded mobility of users The architecture allows for multiple types of access networks, and enables user roaming between different operator domains The architecture is able to provide quality of service peruser and per-service An integrated service and resource management approach is presented based on the cooperative association between Quality of Service Brokers and Authentication, Authorisation, Accounting and Charging systems The different phases of QoS-operation are discussed The overall QoS concepts are presented with some relevant enhancements that address specifically voice services In particular, EF simulations results are discussed in this context

/pdf/an-ip-qos-architecture-for-4g-networks-3o726p4fiv.pdf

Eric Melin

Papers

An IP-based QoS architecture for 4G operator scenarios

The 'pure-IP' Moby Dick 4G architecture

Architectures for IP-based network-assisted mobility management across heterogeneous networks

An IP QoS architecture for 4G networks