4G Heterogeneous Networks General Architecture

The 4G Mobile communications will be based on the Open Wireless Architecture (OWA) to ensure that the single terminal can seamlessly and automatically connect to the local high-speed wireless access systems when the users are in the offices, homes, airports or shopping centers where the wireless access networks (i.e. Wireless LAN, Broadband Wireless Access, Wireless Local Loop, HomeRF, Wireless ATM, etc) are available. When the users move to the mobile zone, the same terminal can automatically switch to the wireless mobile networks (i.e. GPRS, W-CDMA, cdma2000, TD-SCDMA, etc.).

The advantages of this converged wireless communications are:

1. Spectrum efficiency is greatly increased.
2. Highest Data rate to the wireless is mostly ensured.
3. Best sharing of the network resources and channel terminal utilization.
4. Optimally manage the service quality and multimedia applications.

The modules within the architectural framework should be able to incorporate the following high-level mobility issues (Figure 1):

• Users: This focuses on the movement of user, and allows user access to his/her home network while on the move, which involve the provision of personal communication.
• Terminals: This allows the provision of services at any time and anywhere. Terminal mobility allows mobile clients to roam across geographic boundaries of wireless networks. The greatest challenge in providing terminal mobility within a 4G Infrastructure is to locate and update the locations of the terminals in various systems.
• Networks: Network mobility is the ability of the network to support roaming of an entire subnet work, structured or ad hoc.
• Applications: Mobile application should refer to a user's profile so that it can be delivered in a way most preferred by the subscriber, such as context based personalized services.

 

Figure 1: Mobility dimensions

The incorporation of new functions into existing mobility protocols and mechanisms does not appropriately solve the demands of future communication scenarios. Therefore a new‘Mobility Architecture’ needs to be defined, based on the following principles: Diversity, Harmonization among layers, Legacy Awareness, Concept of mobile entities and Naming and name management.

With the acceleration of technology, there is competition among commercial houses to create significant growth and they are looking for various technological solutions for Fourth Generation Mobile Communication Systems