Enric Mitjana

Provision of QoS in heterogeneous wireless IP access networks

The Internet protocol is being deployed at an ever-increasing pace to offer connectivity to support a wide range of applications. Current research is targeting mobile hosts, and numerous research projects are considering the technologies needed to support the nomadic user. The IST BRAIN and MIND projects have studied the problems using a top-down approach, from user requirements through the application layer all the way to link layer specific issues. This paper presents the results of the study of quality of service provision at the IP layer, to offer service differentiation to application data flows, even over wireless networks.

Paving the road to systems beyond 3G - the IST MIND project

In systems beyond 3G mobile access will be considerably more diverse than is currently the case with highly integrated cellular technologies. Complemented with new access technologies, such as wireless LANs, future mobile systems will offer a different mix of bandwidth, cost and coverage. There will also be extensions to traditional wireless access networks - both by operators with wireless routers and by users forming ad-hoc networks that attach at the fringe of the access network. Creating services and delivering multimedia over these networks is a very real technical challenge. In this paper the overall approach of the IST MIND project to tackling these issues is described. Further the rationale for an IP-based architecture and how it is being extended to encompass new access concepts of wireless and mobile routers is detailed. Finally the paper looks at how we are enhancing WLAN systems to give greatly increased performance for systems beyond 3G.

Paving the road to systems beyond 3G — The IST BRAIN and MIND projects

Wireless LAN technology is complementary to 3G systems and could be used to provide high bandwidth hotspot coverage, for example in railway stations and offices, in order to provide the high bandwidth video and broadband services such as those emerging on DSL fixed access. The IST Projects BRAIN and MIND have investigated a number of key technical enablers for such a “system beyond 3G.” These include scenarios and business models, design of an all-IP access network, consideration of ad hoc network extensions, enhancing Wireless LAN efficiency and compatibility with IP and, finally, terminal middleware and signalling for rapid adaptations to network QoS changes.