Jens Gebert

ETSI reconfigurable radio systems: status and future directions on software defined radio and cognitive radio standards

This article details the current work status of the ETSI Reconfigurable Radio Systems Technical Committee, positions the ETSI work with respect to other standards efforts (IEEE 802, IEEE SCC41) as well as the European Regulatory Framework, and gives an outlook on the future evolution. In particular, software defined radio related study results are presented with a focus on SDR architectures for mobile devices such as mobile phones. For MDs, a novel architecture and inherent interfaces are presented enabling the usage of SDR principles in a mass market context. Cognitive radio principles within ETSI RRS are concentrated on two topics, a cognitive pilot channel proposal and a Functional Architecture for Management and control of reconfigurable radio systems, including dynamic self-organizing planning and management, dynamic spectrum management, joint radio resource management. Finally, study results are indicated that are targeting a SDR/CR security framework.

Multi-access Management in Heterogeneous Networks

Communication networks and mobile devices integrate an increasing number of access technologies. At the same time, new business roles emerge, which lead to new cooperation schemes between access providers providing different types of access connectivity. As a result, a variety of access technologies will be available for users at the same time. In this article we present an architecture and a framework capable of integrating different access systems into a multi-access system and selecting the best suited access for users. A utility-based approach is proposed for the evaluation of different access allocation choices, which is based on user and network policies, the performance of access bearers, and the availability of access resources. We present a general multi-access management framework, which integrates the different multi-access related functions: access detection, access evaluation and access selection, which can then lead to an access handover.

Cognitive control channels: from concept to identification of implementation options

Recent effort related to cognitive radio systems has lead to an in-depth analysis of context information management and exploitation based on a cognitive control channel for enhancement of management needed for, say, suitable link selection in a heterogeneous radio framework, dynamic radio resource management, and distributed sensing. Concerning the actual implementation of such a CCC, the focus was recently moved toward an in-band solution, where the information is transported building on existing radio access technologies. In this scope, this article illustrates relevant technical scenarios in which CCCs can be exploited and outlines a set of derived system requirements. The article provides an overview of various possible RAT independent and dependent implementation options, such as Diameter, distributed agents, 3GPP radio resource control (RRC) mechanisms, IEEE 802.21, IEEE 802.11, WiMedia UWB, and Bluetooth. The advantages and drawbacks of the various options are discussed.

Generic Abstraction of Access Performance and Resources for Multi-Radio Access Management

In this paper abstract metrics for the performance and resource situation of an access system are derived Such an abstraction is needed for multi-access systems where different, typically heterogeneous access systems shall be coordinated in an efficient way. There, the abstractions are used to compare and evaluate different access technologies as part of the access selection process and also to compare the link capabilities or link performance with the service requirements. The abstractions are performed by means of a generic link layer (GLL), which thereby hides the technology-specific characteristics from the access selection performed by multi-radio resource management (MRRM). It is also shown how these abstracted metrics can be used in a number of different access selection algorithms.

Autonomics in wireless network management: Advances in standards and further challenges

The increase of user traffic demand, the numerous and QoS-pretentious applications and services, as well as the evolving and emerging business models comprise prominent characteristics of the Future Internet (FI). They also comprise challenges that will necessitate significant alterations in the way that networks delivering FI services are managed, and which are insufficiently addressed by existing solutions. In this respect, autonomic systems exposing self-management and learning capabilities have appeared as the most viable direction for tackling the foreseen complexity and realizing the FI vision. At the same time wireless networking and its evolution will constitute an integral part of FI and thus, the adaptation and integration of the related exploratory work in autonomics into the existing wireless network management is a major challenge to address. The concept of Autonomic Wireless Network Management (AWNM) is the result of this integration. AWNM has been investigated by many research efforts, but also engaged working groups within major standardization bodies. This article will go through the most relevant related standardization activities and explain how autonomics-related ideas are integrated. In particular, 3GPP SON is considered as a rather near-time activity of the new trend in autonomic networking in the wireless domain; on the other hand, it is shown that IEEE DySPAN 1900.4/1900.4a and ETSI RRS Working Group 3 address more disruptive ways forward and are therefore targeting a mid- to longerterm time-frame. Extrapolating the inherent trends, the expected further evolution of the intelligently self-managed wireless communications framework is finally outlined.

Cognitive cloud-oriented wireless networks for the Future Internet

It is expected that the wireless world will migrate towards an era that will comprise more local/ temporary structures for the provision of services. A networking paradigm towards this direction is the opportunistic networking. Operator-governed ONs are dynamically created, temporary, coordinated extensions of the infrastructure. Operator governance is being realized through the use of Cognitive Management Systems which acquire the context, policies and profiles of the environment and make decisions on the creation of opportunistic networks. The paper presents an approach for exploiting such ONs in order to extend the capacity in wireless access and backhaul segments for efficient application provisioning, as well as an evaluation of indicative test cases as a proof of concept of the aforementioned approach. All these scenarios will enable the cognitive cloud-oriented vision of wireless networks for efficient application provisioning in the Future Internet era.

ETSI Reconfigurable Radio Systems — Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio standards

This paper details the current work status of the ETSI Reconfigurable Radio Systems (RRS) Technical Committee (TC) and gives an outlook on the future evolution. In particular, Software Defined Radio (SDR) related study results are presented with a focus on SDR architectures for Mobile Devices (MD), such as mobile phones, etc., as well as for Reconfigurable Base Stations (RBS). For MDs, a novel architecture is presented enabling the usage of SDR principles in a mass market context. Cognitive Radio (CR) principles within ETSI RRS are concentrated on two topics, a Cognitive Pilot Channel (CPC) proposal and a Functional Architecture (FA) for Management and Control of Reconfigurable Radio Systems, including Dynamic Self-Organising Planning and Management, Dynamic Spectrum Management, Joint Radio Resource Management, etc. Finally, study results are indicated which are targeting a SDR/CR security framework.

The Reference Points of an Ambient Network

The features and traits of an Ambient Network as well as the core design choices governing the development of Ambient Network components have already been described in various publications. The only prescriptive definitions of such networks though concern the reference points they expose. These reference points determine how the services an Ambient Network offers to external entities can be accessed. Demanding compliance to the specifications of the reference points in the end guarantees compatibility across all elements participating in the federation of Ambient Networks and finally ensures that the Ambient Network concept of co-operating independent networks is achieved. This paper presents the role and the structure of the three reference points and discusses the realization of each of them in separate chapters. The paper thus serves as an excellent introduction to the observable characteristics of Ambient Networks.

Towards a Multi-Access Prototype in Ambient Networks

In a network environment where the presence of heterogeneous wireless accesses is becoming more and more likely, it becomes critical to achieve an efficient management of the available radio resources. This is one of the main objectives which are being pursued by the ambient networks project. One of the main distinctive aspects of this work is that it is going further of state of the art, since the goal is to assess the feasibility of the proposed solution by means of a prototype based on existing (off-the-shelf) devices and technologies. In this paper we describe the main characteristics of the multi radio access architecture which is being specified in the framework of the aforementioned project, encompassing two main entities: the multi radio resource management and the Generic Link Layer. Furthermore, we also describe the interfaces that have been specified to be used between them and we discuss how the architecture is mapped onto a software implementation.

Management of opportunistic networks through cognitive functionalities

The emerging wireless world will migrate towards an era that will comprise more local/ temporary structures for the provision of services. Opportunistic networking would be used as a networking paradigm towards this direction. Specifically, operator-governed opportunistic networks (ONs) are dynamically created, temporary, coordinated extensions of the infrastructure. Operator governance is being realized through the use of Cognitive Management Systems (CMSs) which acquire the context, policies and profiles of the environment and make decisions on the creation, maintenance or termination of opportunistic networks. This work presents an approach for elaborating on the concept of the management of opportunistic networks through cognitive functionalities. Two main CMSs are proposed namely, the Cognitive management System for the Coordination of the infrastructure (CSCI) and the Cognitive system for the Management of the Opportunistic Network (CMON). CSCIs and CMONs are making use of the common components of CMSs, i.e., the acquisition of context, policies and profiles, decision making, enforcement and learning and are used in order to manage the creation, maintenance and termination of an ON.