A Price Based Spectrum Sharing Scheme in Wireless Cellular Networks

Radio frequency spectrum scarcity has become a high priority research area over the past few years. The huge increase of network subscribers with multimedia applications coupled with underutilization of radio frequency spectrum motivates the search for other measures to address the scarcity of radio frequency spectrum. This work investigates on a price based spectrum sharing scheme for connection-oriented traffic in wireless cellular networks as a solution to address the scarcity of radio frequency spectrum. Dynamic pricing approach is applied with traffic overflows into neighbor networks. Performance evaluations of the scheme at steady state using MATLAB simulations reveal significant gains to the quality of service. Application of the scheme to highly loaded network traffic improves both network revenue and traffic channel utilizations. Keywords?Pricing, spectrum sharing, traffic overflows, Quality of service, channel utilizations, Wireless cellular networks

Efficient joint call admission control and bandwidth management schemes for QoS provisioning in heterogeneous wireless networks

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-157).Next generation wireless network (NGWN) will be heterogeneous where different radio access technologies (RATs) coexist. This coexistence of different RATs necessitates joint radio resource management (JRRM) for enhanced QoS provisioning and efficient radio resource utilization. Joint call admission control (JCAC) algorithm is one of the joint radio resource management algorithms. The basic functions of a JCAC algorithm are to decide whether or not an incoming call can be accepted into a heterogeneous wireless network, and to determine which of the available RATs is most suitable to admit the incoming call. The objective of a JCAC algorithm is to guarantee the QoS requirements of all accepted calls and at the same time make the best use of the available radio resources. Traditional call admission control algorithms designed for homogeneous wireless networks do not provide a single solution to address the heterogeneous architecture, which characterizes NGWN. Consequently, there is need to develop JCAC algorithms for heterogeneous wireless networks. The thesis proposes three JCAC schemes for improving QoS and radio resource utilization, which are of primary concerns, in heterogeneous wireless networks. The first scheme combines adaptive bandwidth management and joint call admission control. The objectives of the first scheme are to enhance average system utilization, guarantee QoS requirements of all accepted calls, and reduce new call blocking probability and handoff call dropping probability in heterogeneous wireless networks. The scheme consists of three components namely: joint call admission controller, bandwidth reservation unit, and bandwidth adaptation unit. Using Markov decision process, an analytical model is developed to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme considering three performance metrics, which are new call blocking probability, handoff call dropping probability, and system utilization. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme improves system utilization and reduces both new call blocking probability and handoff call dropping probability. The second proposed JCAC scheme minimizes call blocking probability by determining the optimal call allocation policy among the available RATs. The scheme measures the arrival rates of different classes of calls into the heterogeneous wireless network. Using linear programming technique, the JCAC scheme determines the call allocation policy that minimizes call-blocking probability in the heterogeneous network. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme reduces call-blocking probability in the heterogeneous wireless network

Dynamic Pricing for Connection-Oriented Services in Wireless networks

In this paper, we deal with dynamic pricing strategies for connection-oriented services in wireless systems. Dynamic pricing policies allow the network operator to charge a cost per time unit depending on the network usage. In this way, the users behavior can be regulated and the network management is significantly improved. We model the user demand and the call duration as functions of the service price. By using standard Markovian techniques to represent the system evolution, we devise an optimal linear pricing scheme, which can be easily computed and controlled. When compared with a flat-rate policy, where a constant price for the network services is fixed, the proposed solution is able to provide a better quality of service to the users as well as a greater revenue to the network operator. For example, when eight radio channels are available and the traffic load is equal to 0.8, we obtain a improvement in the network revenue with respect to the flat-rate policy, while the blocking probability is halved

Individual Mobile Communication Services and Tariffs

Individual services and tariffs existed briefly in the beginning of telecommunications history 150 years ago but faded away over time. Service provisioning evolved into the current supplier-centric situation which has many limitations and disadvantages. This thesis re-embraces the user-centric service provisioning and tariffing philosophy and applies it to current mobile communication services setting, which differs significantly in scale and scope from the historical practices. A design methodology and tool for the determination of individualized mobile services and tariffs is provided, and benefits to both the user and the supplier are evaluated. The design has three aspects. The first involves the construction of a conceptual framework consisting of the behavioral models of the user and the supplier (firm) and a game theoretical negotiation mechanism to determine individual services and tariffs. Second is the operationalization of the conceptual framework in a computational design with methods, computational models, negotiation algorithms, risk metrics and a prototype implementation. Third is the extension of the individual services and tariffs concept to a community setting via a proposed community business model. Two evaluations are performed. First, for the firm-based design, a user survey is conducted and computational cases, that address value-added mobile services and generic mobile service bundles, are developed. The numerical analyses show that the users always achieve gains in utility. The benefits to the supplier include adjustable risk-profit equilibrium points, increased network traffic and reduced churn. Second, two case studies on communities are conducted. The results demonstrate that the proposed business model of community-based individual service provisioning and tariffing can meet the demands of their members precisely and address both affordability and sustainability issues. Last, a specific engineering implementation and integration of the individualized service and tariff design tools into the existing infrastructure of the communication services suppliers is proposed. Further research issues are pointed out