Cornelia Kappler

Network Composition: A Framework for Dynamic Interworking between Networks

Scenarios for communication networks of the future envisage a multitude of networks in the core, access as well as user segments, connected via a number of heterogeneous wireline and wireless technologies. Furthermore, the traditional divide between service providers and consumers will disappear with the emergence of new business models where networks can assume multiple roles simultaneously. The Ambient Networks project is developing solutions and frameworks to support such scenarios by applying network composition which is a fundamental aspect of Ambient Network (AN) architecture. Composition can be defined as a framework for dynamic and automatic cooperation between networks. The term cooperation is used here in a broad sense to refer to all sorts of interactions between networks to achieve specific goals. Examples include interworking between a user AN and an access AN to provide network connectivity to the former, sharing of radio resources between two access ANs for load balancing, delegation of AAA functions by a small WLAN provider to a large operator etc. In this paper, we discuss different aspects of composition framework.

Distributed Event-signaling in Ambient Networks Based on IP-multicast

Event signaling (or event notification) is a widely used approach to enable cooperation and synchronization among relevant control functions in various communication networks, where a control function, i.e. the event-publisher, detects an event and signals/notifies all other concerned control functions, i.e. the event-subscribers, about that event by sending them a dedicated common message containing all related event-information. Currently, event signaling/notification techniques are based on centralized approaches and rely on the static existence and the flawless function of central notification service entities. The more and more dynamic and flexible properties of various self-contained autonomous networks, like Ambient Networks, make it difficult to always ensure the prerequisites of applying such centralized event signaling approaches and demand more flexible distributed approaches without requiring any significant supports of any central service entities. This document proposes such a flexible and dynamic distributed approach of event signaling based on the standard IP-multicast technology.