Andreas Kunz

Machine type communications in 3GPP networks: potential, challenges, and solutions

With a wide range of potential applications, Machine Type Communication (MTC) or Machine to Machine (M2M) communication is gaining a tremendous interest among mobile network operators, equipment vendors, MTC specialist companies, and research bodies. To facilitate convergence among these different stakeholders, different standardization groups started working on MTC. This article introduces briefly some of the relevant activities, with a focus on those related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The article focuses on two important aspects of MTC devices, currently discussed in 3GPP as part of its Release 10. They are subscription control and network congestion/overload control. For the latter, a new solution based on bulk signaling handling is proposed.

Energy-Efficient D2D Discovery for Proximity Services in 3GPP LTE-Advanced Networks: ProSe Discovery Mechanisms

Device-to-device (D2D) communications facilitate promising solutions for service optimization and spectrum/capacity efficiency in the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks. A key enabler for D2D communications and proximity services (ProSe) is the device discovery process. Currently, many aggressive peer discovery methods discussed in 3GPP could induce high energy consumption. Therefore, a critical objective in efficient D2D proximity service deployments is how to prolong the battery life time of user equipments (UEs) by managing discovery cycles intelligently. In this article, D2D discovery mechanisms discussed in the 3GPP are studied in terms of energy consumption aspects. In particular, we consider an efficient D2D discovery mechanism that takes advantage of the concept of proximity area (P-Area), a dynamic geographical region wherein UEs activate their D2D capabilities. The mechanism enables UEs to perform D2D discovery procedures only when there is a high probability to find other UEs subscribed to the same service. The energy consumption profiles of various discovery mechanisms are evaluated using simulations, and the results indicate that significant energy savings can be obtained using the considered discovery mechanism.

Connecting and Managing M2M Devices in the Future Internet

As a cutting edge technology, Machine to Machine (M2M) communications are gaining ground for managing and controlling M2M devices. Since these objects have intelligence, communication capabilities and ability to work with their environment, they are considered as a key component for future smart buildings and cities. In this article we briefly introduce several architectures for M2M devices, which are being standardized in 3GPP, ETSI TC M2M and OneM2M, highlighting key functionalities used to manage and control M2M devices such as overload control, conflict management and semantic interworking. Further, the description of their realization in the field of smart building, as part of the CAMPUS 21 European project based on the M2M service modeling from the SENSEI European project, is presented.

Recent Trends in Standards Related to the Internet of Things and Machine-to-Machine Communications

One of major purposes of these standard technologies is to ensure interoperability between entities from different vendors and enable interworking between various technologies. As interoperability and interworking are essential for machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) for them to achieve their ultimate goal, i.e., things to be connected each other, multiple standards organizations are now working on development M2M/IoT related specifications. This paper reviews the current activities of some of the most relevant standardization bodies in the area of M2M and IoT: third-generation partnership project (3GPP) core and radio network aspects, broadband forum, and oneM2M. The major features and issues being focused upon in these standards bodies are summarized. Finally, some key common trends among the different bodies are identified: a common service layer platform, new technologies mitigating an explosive growth of network traffic, and considerations and efforts related to the development of device management technologies.

Virtual bearer management for efficient MTC radio and backhaul sharing in LTE networks

The increasing adoption of Machine Type Communication (MTC) applications using the Long Term Evolution (LTE) brings new challenges for the traditional bearer allocation and network management. MTC devices are high in number, each requiring an individual bearer for a short data transmission; an inefficient process considering the signaling and management effort to the duration of the actual bearer use. This paper introduces the notion of a virtual bearer that can be shared among a number of MTC devices with similar Quality of Service (QoS) characteristics. The virtual bearer support at the MTC device side is based on the paradigm of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and can migrate from one MTC device to another eliminating the need for individual device bearer establishment for both the radio and backhaul. The use of virtual bearers is enhanced by considering additionally MTC device-to-device (D2D) connectivity allowing devices without direct access to the network to use the virtual bearer via other devices, which act as gateways. Gateway devices may also be re-located dynamically based on NFV principles. In this way, a finer control is achieved on prioritizing certain services and providing load balancing. Our simulation results demonstrate the benefits of our proposed scheme compared to conventional approaches wherein MTC devices use individual bearers to send data in response to a trigger or according to a predetermined schedule.

Enhanced 3GPP system for interworking with fixed broadband access network

This article explains the 3GPP-BBF interworking architecture using WLAN access or home (e)NodeB/femtocell access in order to go toward single network for policy and QoS convergence. The interworking architectures and schemes ensure that the customers get the same service via any access network. In addition, this article covers the mechanisms to support evolved packet core routed traffic and non-seamless WLAN offloaded traffic in the interworking architecture.

Machine type communications in 3GPP: From release 10 to release 12

This paper describes the feature development for machine type communications (MTC) in 3GPP from Release 10 to Release 11 and gives an outlook to the upcoming Release 12. Especially, this paper covers the enhanced 3GPP architecture to support the communication between the MTC application in the MTC device and the MTC application in the external network.

Enhanced 3GPP system for Machine Type Communications and Internet of Things

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has been working on developing specifications on Machine Type Communications (MTC), also known as Machine to Machine Communications (M2M), which is all part of Internet of Things (IoT), a technology that enables machines and devices to be inter-connected via the internet. This paper presents recent M2M/IoT feature enhancements in 3GPP. These features include architectural enhancements for inclusion of a service exposure framework, group based IoT management, efficient monitoring mechanisms for IoT devices, optimization of IoT device power consumption, and high latency communications. These M2M/IoT related functionalities and enhancements are a continuing effort within 3GPP to make the mobile network fulfil the ever changing M2M/IoT requirements, and in so doing allow operators/service providers to offer unique services.

Energy efficient device discovery for social cloud applications in 3GPP LTE-advanced networks

Recent advances in 3GPP for device-to-device (D2D) communications underlying the cellular infrastructure have revealed several benefits regarding network resource management and increased coverage. Notwithstanding these advantages, peer discovery may significant amount of device battery if devices need to constantly sense and notify each other irrespective of the application subscriptions, and the potential of establishing D2D communications. In this paper, we consider a novel social application-based discovery mechanism that enables D2D UEs to achieve significant energy consumption savings, using the concept of social cloud region. Such a cloud-based region helps UE to activate D2D discovery features only when they are close enough to other, while having same application-based interests. The engagement of cloud applications provides the means of offloading the discovery process from not only UEs but also the LTE core network. In this paper we analyze the energy consumption profiles of various discovery mechanisms using simulations. Our simulation results validate that our proposed discovery mechanism results in significant energy savings by reducing the frequency of performing discovery procedures.

Disaster response in 3GPP mobile networks

This paper describes the mechanisms and features specified for 3GPP mobile networks in order to warn and react to situations of disasters like earthquakes, tsunami or terror attacks. Such disasters cause severe damage to the network and also cause overload situations due to the high demand of communication.