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 with control element functions. An integrated management approach to service and 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.

New software-defined open network concepts are proposed in this paper to enable an efficient implementation of front-and backhaul solutions for future 5G mobile networks. Main requirements for 5G front-and backhaul are derived and then related to the open network architecture enabling multiple operators to share the same physical infrastructure. The value of software-defined networking (SDN) is particularly outlined therefore. For the use of SDN in the fronthaul, CPRI over Ethernet (CoE) is proposed as a new transport protocol. In the backhaul, distributed security can be implemented using SDN where direct links are confined inside the access domain, as opposed to the current centralized security solution including also the transport domain. In this way, low latency can be realized e.g. for machine-type communications. As the benefits for fixed-mobile convergence are evident, SDN should be enabled increasingly in the access domain.

No abstract

No abstract

This article presents a field evaluation of an IP-based architecture for heterogeneous environments that has been developed under the aegis of the Moby Dick project, covering UMTS-like (universal mobile telecommunications system) TD-CDMA (time division-code division multiple access) wireless access technology, wireless and wired LANs. The architecture treats all transmission capabilities as basic physical and data-link layers, and replaces all higher-level tasks by IP-based strategies. The Moby Dick architecture incorporates mobile IPv6, fast handovers, AAA-control (authentication, authorisation, accounting), charging and quality of service (QoS) in an integrated framework. The architecture further allows for optimised control on the radio link layer resources. It has been implemented and tested by expert users, and evaluated by real users on field trials with multiple services available.