Evangelos Rekkas

A Power Control Scheme for Efficient Radio Bearer Selection in MBMS

This paper proposes a power control scheme for the efficient radio bearer selection in the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) framework of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The choice of the most efficient transport channel in terms ofpower consumption is a key point for the MBMS since a wrong transport channel selection for the transmission of the MBMS data could result to a significant decrease in the total capacity of the system. Diferent UMTS transport channels are examined and an algorithm that defines the switching point between dedicated and common radio bearers is proposed The proposed MBMSpower control scheme selects the transport channel that reduces the Node Bs transmission power in every cell of the network with multicast users.

An improved MBMS power counting mechanism towards long term evolution

One of the key objectives of beyond 3rd generation mobile networks is the realization of enhanced end-user experience through the provision of rich multimedia services. Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) framework epitomizes the increasing popularity of such applications and is envisaged to play an instrumental role for the Long Term Evolution (LTE) proliferation in mobile market. For exploiting resource efficiency, MBMS specifications consider the Counting Mechanism which decides whether it is more efficient to deliver MBMS multicast traffic over Point-to-Point (PTP) or Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) bearers. However, the necessity to further improve MBMS resource efficiency and integrate new technologies in the frame of LTE stresses the need for an advanced Counting Mechanism. In this work we propose a novel Power Counting Mechanism for efficient selection of MBMS bearers. The proposed mechanism optimally utilizes power resources and exploits broadband characteristics and performance enhancements emerged from Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas used in LTE networks.

An improved mechanism for multiple MBMS sessions assignment in B3G cellular networks

In Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), the downlink capacity is limited by the base station transmission power. Therefore, power control plays an important role to minimize the transmitted power shared among unicast and multicast users within a cell. In Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS), power control targets to the efficient utilization of radio and network resources. However, the expected high demand for such services stresses the need for an efficient scheme, capable of dynamically allocating radio resources to parallel MBMS sessions. This paper proposes a power control mechanism for efficient MBMS session assignment in next generation UMTS networks. The mechanism shares efficiently the available power resources of UMTS base stations to MBMS sessions running in the network. Furthermore, the mechanism is evaluated through several realistic scenarios and the results indicate the ability of the mechanism to utilize efficiently the radio resources and to ensure the service continuity when parallel MBMS services run in the network. Our approach is compared with current 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approaches, such as these presented in TS 25.346 and in TR 25.922, in order to highlight the enhancements that it provides.

Optimal MBMS Power Allocation Exploiting MIMO in LTE Networks

In the frame of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of mobile networks, the provision of rich multimedia services, such as Mobile TV, is considered of key importance for the LTE proliferation in mobile market. To this end, Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) is envisaged to play an instrumental role during LTE standardization process. MBMS was introduced in the Release 6 of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) in order to deliver multimedia data from a single source entity to multiple destinations. However, downlink capacity in such networks is limited by base station transmission power. As an aftermath, in MBMS efficient power allocation techniques should be implemented so as to ensure the mass provision of multimedia applications to mobile users. In this paper we propose a power control scheme for efficient selection of MBMS bearers. The proposed mechanism on the one hand manages to economically utilize power resources during MBMS transmissions, while on the other hand exploits the performance enhancements emerged from Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas used in LTE networks. Simulation results indicate that the proposed scheme results to significant power and capacity improvements.

Efficient Assignment of Multiple MBMS Sessions in B3G Networks

In Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), the downlink capacity is limited by the base station transmission power. Therefore, power control plays an important role to minimize the transmitted power shared among unicast and multicast users within a cell. In Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS), power control targets to the efficient utilization of radio and network resources. However, the expected high demand for such services stresses the need for an efficient scheme, capable of dynamically allocating radio resources to parallel MBMS sessions. This paper proposes a power control mechanism for efficient MBMS session assignment in next generation UMTS networks. The mechanism shares efficiently the available power resources of UMTS base stations to MBMS sessions running in the network Furthermore, the mechanism is evaluated through several realistic scenarios and the results indicate the ability of the mechanism to utilize efficiently the radio resources and to ensure the service continuity when parallel MBMS services running in the network.

A novel mechanism for radio capacity maximization during MBMS transmissions in B3G networks

This paper proposes a novel mechanism for efficient power control during multicast transmissions in Beyond 3rd Generation (B3G) mobile networks. The mechanism utilizes optimally the available power resources of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) base stations, resulting to network capacity maximization. The proposed mechanism is based on the concept of transport channels combination (point-to-point and/or point-to-multipoint radio bearers) in any cell/sector of the network in which Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) users are residing. In particular, the transport channel combination that minimizes the transmission power of the base station is selected for the transmission of the MBMS traffic to the corresponding cell. The mechanism is evaluated through several realistic scenarios and the results indicate the ability of the mechanism to utilize optimally the radio resources of the network. Furthermore, our approach is compared with several power control mechanisms existing in the bibliography, including the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) approaches (presented in 3GPP TS 25.346 and 3GPP TR 25.922), in order to highlight the enhancements that it provides.

Efficient delivery of MBMS multicast traffic over HSDPA

Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) are two key technologies that constitute a significant step towards the Mobile Broadband. MBMS was introduced by the third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in order to support broadcast and multicast communication over wireless networks and in particular over Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Concurrently, HSDPA aims to ensure the transmission of high peak data rates and increase system capacity. In this paper we evaluate the performance of MBMS multicast transmission over the premier transport channel used in HSDPA, named High Speed-Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH). Due to the fact that downlink transmission power is the scarcest resource in UMTS networks, the evaluation is performed through an analytical dimensioning of the MBMS downlink transmission power. Furthermore, the impacts of power allocation on MBMS capacity are investigated.

A Novel Power Counting Mechanism for Enhanced MBMS Performance in UMTS Networks

One of the key objectives of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is the realization of enhanced end-user experience through the provision of rich multimedia services, ensuring in parallel an economical delivery cost for service providers. Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) framework of UMTS epitomizes the increasing popularity of such applications by efficiently delivering multimedia traffic to a large number of users and optimizing the radio interface of UMTS networks. For exploiting resource efficiency, MBMS specifications consider the Counting Mechanism which decides whether it is more economic to deliver MBMS multicast traffic over point-to-point (PTP) or point-tomultipoint (PTM) bearers. However, the necessity to further improve MBMS resource efficiency and integrate new technologies such as High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) stresses the need for an advanced Counting Mechanism. To this direction, in this paper we propose a novel Power Counting Mechanism which performs optimal power resource utilization and incorporates the HSDPA broadband extension of UMTS for enhanced performance.

Evaluation of different radio bearer selection approaches for MBMS in B3G networks

The spread of multimedia data has drastically differentiated the current landscape of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) networks, posing the need for further enhancements in its Radio Resource Management (RRM) strategies. Introduced in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) Release 6, the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) framework aims at the efficient usage of network and radio resources for the transmission of multimedia services. The main requirement during the provision of MBMS multicast services is to minimize the transmission power of UMTS base stations. To this direction, several mechanisms have been proposed that either allow a simultaneous deployment of Point-to-Point (PTP) and Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) transmissions, or a single transport channel deployment (PTP or PTM) in a cell at any given time. Main objective of this paper is to study these mechanisms, compare them in terms of power consumption, underline the advantages that they may offer; and finally to propose enhancements that will ensure the lowest possible power consumption during MBMS transmissions.

THE MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST/MULTICAST SERVICE OF THE UNIVERSAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) constitutes the premier third generation (3G) wireless technology that is dominating the global market. Multicasting is an efficient method of supporting group communication as it allows the transmission of packets to multiple destinations, using fewer network resources. The need for broadcasting and multicasting in UMTS led to the definition of the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) framework, which targets the efficient utilization of radio and network resources of the UMTS network. This chapter introduces the key concepts of UMTS and in particular the MBMS framework of UMTS. Moreover, it investigates the power profiles of several transport channels (common and dedicated) which could be employed for the transmission of MBMS services to mobile users. Problems regarding the high power requirements for the realization of MBMS are also presented. The reader will become familiar with these problems and the proposed techniques/solutions.