16-03-2012, 12:56 PM
Challenges in the Migration to 4G Mobile Systems
[attachment=18434]
ABSTRACT
With the rapid development of wireless communication
networks, it is expected that fourthgeneration
mobile systems will be launched
within decades. 4G mobile systems focus on
seamlessly integrating the existing wireless technologies
including GSM, wireless LAN, and
Bluetooth. This contrasts with 3G, which merely
focuses on developing new standards and hardware.
4G systems will support comprehensive
and personalized services, providing stable system
performance and quality service. However,
migrating current systems to 4G presents enormous
challenges. In this article these challenges
are discussed under the headings of mobile station,
system, and service aspects. Proposed solutions
to the research problems in each aspect
will also be examined.
INTRODUCTION
Second-generation (2G) mobile systems were
very successful in the previous decade. Their
success prompted the development of third-generation
(3G) mobile systems. While 2G systems
such as GSM, IS-95, and cdmaOne were
designed to carry speech and low-bit-rate data,
3G systems were designed to provide higherdata-
rate services. During the evolution from 2G
to 3G, a range of wireless systems, including
GPRS, IMT-2000, Bluetooth, WLAN, and
HiperLAN, have been developed. All these systems
were designed independently, targeting different
service types, data rates, and users. As
these systems all have their own merits and
shortcomings, there is no single system that is
good enough to replace all the other technologies.
Instead of putting efforts into developing
new radio interfaces and technologies for 4G
systems, which some researchers are doing, we
believe establishing 4G systems that integrate
existing and newly developed wireless systems is
a more feasible option.
SERVICES
Multiple Operators and Billing System —
In today’s mobile market, an operator usually
charges customers with a simple billing and
accounting scheme. A flat rate based on subscribed
services, call durations, and transferred
data volume is usually enough in many situations.
However, with the increase of service
varieties in 4G systems, more comprehensive
billing and accounting systems are needed. Customers
may no longer belong to only one operator,
but instead subscribe to many services
from a number of service providers at the same
time. It may be very inconvenient for a customer
to deal with multiple service providers.
Instead, a brokering service can be provided.
Customers do not have to waste time handling
all the financial transactions involved. To
achieve this, operators need to design new business
architecture, accounting processes, and
accounting data maintenance. Moreover, equalization
on different charging schemes is also
needed. This is because different billing
schemes may be used for different types of services
(e.g., charging can be based on data, time,
or information). It is challenging to formulate
one single billing method that covers all the
billing schemes involved. Furthermore, 4G networks
support multimedia communications,
which consists of different media components
with possibly different charging units.
CONCLUSION
In this article research challenges in the migration
to 4G networks are studied and described.
The challenges are grouped into three aspects:
mobile station, system, and service. Some of
the challenges are well studied, such as multimode
user terminals, wireless system discovery,
terminal mobility, and QoS support. On the
other hand, others are less studied.
[attachment=18434]
ABSTRACT
With the rapid development of wireless communication
networks, it is expected that fourthgeneration
mobile systems will be launched
within decades. 4G mobile systems focus on
seamlessly integrating the existing wireless technologies
including GSM, wireless LAN, and
Bluetooth. This contrasts with 3G, which merely
focuses on developing new standards and hardware.
4G systems will support comprehensive
and personalized services, providing stable system
performance and quality service. However,
migrating current systems to 4G presents enormous
challenges. In this article these challenges
are discussed under the headings of mobile station,
system, and service aspects. Proposed solutions
to the research problems in each aspect
will also be examined.
INTRODUCTION
Second-generation (2G) mobile systems were
very successful in the previous decade. Their
success prompted the development of third-generation
(3G) mobile systems. While 2G systems
such as GSM, IS-95, and cdmaOne were
designed to carry speech and low-bit-rate data,
3G systems were designed to provide higherdata-
rate services. During the evolution from 2G
to 3G, a range of wireless systems, including
GPRS, IMT-2000, Bluetooth, WLAN, and
HiperLAN, have been developed. All these systems
were designed independently, targeting different
service types, data rates, and users. As
these systems all have their own merits and
shortcomings, there is no single system that is
good enough to replace all the other technologies.
Instead of putting efforts into developing
new radio interfaces and technologies for 4G
systems, which some researchers are doing, we
believe establishing 4G systems that integrate
existing and newly developed wireless systems is
a more feasible option.
SERVICES
Multiple Operators and Billing System —
In today’s mobile market, an operator usually
charges customers with a simple billing and
accounting scheme. A flat rate based on subscribed
services, call durations, and transferred
data volume is usually enough in many situations.
However, with the increase of service
varieties in 4G systems, more comprehensive
billing and accounting systems are needed. Customers
may no longer belong to only one operator,
but instead subscribe to many services
from a number of service providers at the same
time. It may be very inconvenient for a customer
to deal with multiple service providers.
Instead, a brokering service can be provided.
Customers do not have to waste time handling
all the financial transactions involved. To
achieve this, operators need to design new business
architecture, accounting processes, and
accounting data maintenance. Moreover, equalization
on different charging schemes is also
needed. This is because different billing
schemes may be used for different types of services
(e.g., charging can be based on data, time,
or information). It is challenging to formulate
one single billing method that covers all the
billing schemes involved. Furthermore, 4G networks
support multimedia communications,
which consists of different media components
with possibly different charging units.
CONCLUSION
In this article research challenges in the migration
to 4G networks are studied and described.
The challenges are grouped into three aspects:
mobile station, system, and service. Some of
the challenges are well studied, such as multimode
user terminals, wireless system discovery,
terminal mobility, and QoS support. On the
other hand, others are less studied.