If anything is certain, the fact that 4G system will be completely IP-based is one. Although homogeneous at the higher levels of the architecture. 4G most likely will integrate several nestled networks with heterogeneous offered services, features, applications and service providers represented by mobile operators, companies or even individual users and content providers. The role of 4G systems in the wireless arena will be parallel to that of the Internet for fixed networks. It will be a common place to find the same service being offered by different sub-networks though maybe under varying security, bandwidth, delay, availability and pricing features.
While the prices for multi-radio and multi-interface devices are continuing to drop, new network topologies are also emerging including ad-hoc, mesh, hybrid and multi-dimensional ones. The latter are networks where a node may take part into different technology dependent networks at the same time, leading hence to a multi-layer view of the new topology. For this reason, new routing algorithms are designed to lead with new topologies and network challenges.
New Network Topologies
One expects that existing traditional network topologies such as those based on fixed infrastructure, ad hoc networks and others, to blend into 4G networks in a highly dynamic cooperating environment. 4G is also embracing highly dynamic networks such as delay tolerant or disruptive networks in addition to opportunistic communications which may be exploited in disaster recovery scenarios and military applications. The emergence of vehicular networks also presents new challenges to the design of 4G edge capacity and mobility support. VANs are expected to have bit rates close to those of fixed networks. New VAN topologies depict dynamic multi-hop short range vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-with-infrastructure communications.
Similarly to fixed networks, overlay topologies can run over 4G to offer virtual high level structures among individuals across 4G networks. Examples of such overlays are emerging new social networks, where topology information is primordial to improving data forwarding, privacy and security as seen in (Bernardos, Casar & Tarrio, 2006). Unlike current networks, a 4G one should open up further possibilities for individuals and groups to work, discuss and play together often by self-structuring driven by common interests, needs and incentives, instead of mere connectivity. The success of future 4G systems may depend to a great extent on their capacity to accommodate these new data services using social, biological and other nature inspired.
