Francis Joseph Mullany

Self-deployment, self-configuration: critical future paradigms for wireless access networks

To combat the increasing significance of deployment and configuration costs, the concept of a self-deploying, self-configuring radio access network is discussed. It is proposed that the basic sciences of complex systems (cellular automata, game theory, ecology modeling) can be exploited to design algorithms for such a system. An example, taken from the field of cellular automata, is presented for a network capable of self-adaptation to achieve universal radio coverage in a simplified environment.

I, base station: Cognisant robots and future wireless access networks

The idea of a completely independent, self-healing, self-deploying, and self-optimising communication network is an appealing one. This paper outlines why financial pressures will drive wireless communication networks towards the adoption of autonomic systems with the above characteristics, that will eventually become cognisant, exhibiting some degree of self- awareness. As a step in this direction, we explore the concept of robotic wireless base stations and discuss their behaviour subject to principles inspired by Asimovs Laws of Robotics. Finally, a discussion of how such laws would be applicable in current and future scenarios is presented.

Autonomous organization of wireless network transport in a multi-provider environment

With the emergence of multiple wireless operators using a variety of access technologies, congested spectrum bands, and multi-standard user terminals, there is a pressing need to see what implications autonomic communication systems can have on business models in the wireless access business. This paper outlines and discusses some perspectives on the future impact of autonomicity in a demand-, resource-, and competition-driven environment and on the strategies of wireless access providers. The effects are investigated for a standards-neutral, multi-agent architecture that is capable of per-session/call trading of access to wireless network and spectrum resources, exploiting the capability of autonomous agents to represent the business interests of individual players. Results from a joint radio-resource/inter-agent-negotiation simulator are used to quantitatively assess the economic outcomes in various multi-operator competitive scenarios in a realistic environment (an international airport).

High-Speed Downlink Access in 3G Systems: A Portent for the Evolution of 4G Systems?

Due to the need of operators to protect the high levels of investment inthird generation (3G) wireless systems, it seems likely that the path tofourth generation (4G) wireless systems will be evolutionary rather thanrevolutionary. Currently there are a number of proposals beforestandardisation bodies such as 3GPP and 3GPP2 for extending the relevant3G systems to handle asymmetrical, packet-orientatedservices with very high downlink capacities. These proposals, whichinclude HDR and 1XTREME, may pave the way towards 4G systems.This paper outlines some of the salient features of HDR and 1XTREME:adaptive modulation, advanced hybrid ARQ, new fast access controlschemes, etc. On the basis of the trends inherent in theseproposals, some possible directions for the development of 4G systems arediscussed.