4-G Architecture

Other Unique Engineering Ideas
Network operators, service providers and customers are players who have different interests and raise different requirements on the functionality of future mobile communication networks. However, some new capabilities, such as mobility, security, ubiquity and quality are spelled out by all, which means that there exist some fundamental mechanisms which are in fact needed in every network.

1. Description

2. Why

3. How

4. Future Trends

5. Related Links

  Useful Links Wireless LAN, Wi-Fi 

Description

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.

Why

4G mobile communications should not focus only on data-rate increase and new air-interface, but should, instead, converge the advanced wireless mobile communications and high-speed wireless access systems into an OWA platform, which becomes the core of this emerging next-generation mobile technology.The overall network was developed in order to support three different types of access technologies (Ethernet, Wireless LAN and TD-CDMA). The network architecture was developed using three key design principles:

  • The network should implement as many functions as possible using standard IP-based protocols and technologies, by reusing as many commonalities in different access technologies as possible.

  • The network should be able to provide real-time services with quality comparable to traditional cellular networks.

  • The services should be generally accessible regardless of the access network and uninterrupted during handover (change of pointof- attachment).

  • Mobile end-systems which can be equipped with interfaces from different technologies simultaneously. In particular, interfaces to TDCDMA (UMTS-TDD), wireless LANs (802.11b), and fixed networks (Ethernet) are supported;

  • Access Routers, providing an interface between a wireless and a wired-network domain. These nodes are associated with the traditional concept of a Base Station, the actual access point of 2G and 3G wireless technologies, but enriched with IP capabilities. One Access Router controls one IP subnet, which is directly mapped to one radio cell.

  • Network management servers in the fixed network for mobility management, AAA, Charging, QoS,  security and paging issues.

How

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.The emerging new communications paradigm assumes a user to be able to access services independently of her or his location, in an almost transparent way, with the terminal being able to pick the preferred access technology at current location (ad-hoc, wired, wireless LAN, or cellular), and move between technologies seamlessly i.e. without noticeable disruption.Unified, secure, multi-service, and multiple-operator network architectures are now being developed in a context commonly referenced to as networks Beyond-3G or, alternatively, 4G networks. The 4G concept supports the provisioning of multiple types of services, ranging from simple network access to complex multimedia virtual reality, including voice communication services, which are themselves a challenge in packet-based mobile communications environments.

Future Trends

Interconnectivity drives the notion of ubiquitous computing where small computational devices are embedded into our everyday environment in a way that allows them to be operated seamlessly and transparently. These devices are meant to be active and aware of their surroundings so that they can react and emit information when needed.Interconnectivity will require an agreement over basic communication.Standards and history suggests reaching an agreement will be problematic. The current sluggish economic environment will lead to convergence, less competition and more conservative deployments schedules.

Keywords

Mobile - Wireless Communications, TDMA - CDMA, 4G, Cellular Phones, Consumer Electronics, Marketing, Mobile, Personal Technology, Wireless 

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