84,312 research outputs found
Next Generation M2M Cellular Networks: Challenges and Practical Considerations
In this article, we present the major challenges of future machine-to-machine
(M2M) cellular networks such as spectrum scarcity problem, support for
low-power, low-cost, and numerous number of devices. As being an integral part
of the future Internet-of-Things (IoT), the true vision of M2M communications
cannot be reached with conventional solutions that are typically cost
inefficient. Cognitive radio concept has emerged to significantly tackle the
spectrum under-utilization or scarcity problem. Heterogeneous network model is
another alternative to relax the number of covered users. To this extent, we
present a complete fundamental understanding and engineering knowledge of
cognitive radios, heterogeneous network model, and power and cost challenges in
the context of future M2M cellular networks
Flat Cellular (UMTS) Networks
Traditionally, cellular systems have been built in a hierarchical manner: many specialized cellular access network elements that collectively form a hierarchical cellular system. When 2G and later 3G systems were designed there was a good reason to make system hierarchical: from a cost-perspective it was better to concentrate traffic and to share the cost of processing equipment over a large set of users while keeping the base stations relatively cheap. However, we believe the economic reasons for designing cellular systems in a hierarchical manner have disappeared: in fact, hierarchical architectures hinder future efficient deployments. In this paper, we argue for completely flat cellular wireless systems, which need just one type of specialized network element to provide radio access network (RAN) functionality, supplemented by standard IP-based network elements to form a cellular network. While the reason for building a cellular system in a hierarchical fashion has disappeared, there are other good reasons to make the system architecture flat: (1) as wireless transmission techniques evolve into hybrid ARQ systems, there is less need for a hierarchical cellular system to support spatial diversity; (2) we foresee that future cellular networks are part of the Internet, while hierarchical systems typically use interfaces between network elements that are specific to cellular standards or proprietary. At best such systems use IP as a transport medium, not as a core component; (3) a flat cellular system can be self scaling while a hierarchical system has inherent scaling issues; (4) moving all access technologies to the edge of the network enables ease of converging access technologies into a common packet core; and (5) using an IP common core makes the cellular network part of the Internet
Internet of Things-aided Smart Grid: Technologies, Architectures, Applications, Prototypes, and Future Research Directions
Traditional power grids are being transformed into Smart Grids (SGs) to
address the issues in existing power system due to uni-directional information
flow, energy wastage, growing energy demand, reliability and security. SGs
offer bi-directional energy flow between service providers and consumers,
involving power generation, transmission, distribution and utilization systems.
SGs employ various devices for the monitoring, analysis and control of the
grid, deployed at power plants, distribution centers and in consumers' premises
in a very large number. Hence, an SG requires connectivity, automation and the
tracking of such devices. This is achieved with the help of Internet of Things
(IoT). IoT helps SG systems to support various network functions throughout the
generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy by
incorporating IoT devices (such as sensors, actuators and smart meters), as
well as by providing the connectivity, automation and tracking for such
devices. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on IoT-aided SG
systems, which includes the existing architectures, applications and prototypes
of IoT-aided SG systems. This survey also highlights the open issues,
challenges and future research directions for IoT-aided SG systems
Recommended from our members
A survey of handover algorithms in DVB-H
Digital Video Broadcasting for Handhelds (DVB-H) is a standard for
broadcasting IP Datacast (IPDC) services to mobile handheld terminals.
Based on the DVB-T standard, DVB-H adds new features such as time
slicing, MPE-FEC, in-depth interleavers, mandatory cell id identifier,
optional 4K-modulation mode and the use of 5 MHz bandwidth in addition
to the usually used 6, 7, or 8 MHz raster. IPDC over DVB-H is proposed
for ETSI to complement the DVB-H standard by combining IPDC and
DVB-H in an end-to-end system. Handover in such unidirectional broadcasting
networks is a novel issue. In the last few years since the birth of
DVB-H technology, great attention has been given to the performance
analysis of DVB-H mobile terminals. Handover is one of the main research
topics for DVB-H in mobile scenarios. Better reception quality and greater
power efficiency are considered to be the main targets of handover
research for DVB-H. New algorithms for different handover stages in
DVB-H have been the subject of recent research and are currently being
studied. Further novel algorithms need to be designed to improve the
mobile reception quality. This article provides a comprehensive survey of
the handover algorithms in DVB-H. A systematic evaluation and categorization
approach is proposed based on the problems the algorithms solve
and the handover stages being focused on. Criteria are proposed and analyzed
to facilitate designing better handover algorithms for DVB-H that
have been identified from the research conducted by the author
Memory-full context-aware predictive mobility management in dual connectivity 5G networks
Network densification with small cell deployment is being considered as one of the dominant themes in the fifth generation (5G) cellular system. Despite the capacity gains, such deployment scenarios raise several challenges from mobility management perspective. The small cell size, which implies a small cell residence time, will increase the handover (HO) rate dramatically. Consequently, the HO latency will become a critical consideration in the 5G era. The latter requires an intelligent, fast and light-weight HO procedure with minimal signalling overhead. In this direction, we propose a memory-full context-aware HO scheme with mobility prediction to achieve the aforementioned objectives. We consider a dual connectivity radio access network architecture with logical separation between control and data planes because it offers relaxed constraints in implementing the predictive approaches. The proposed scheme predicts future HO events along with the expected HO time by combining radio frequency performance to physical proximity along with the user context in terms of speed, direction and HO history. To minimise the processing and the storage requirements whilst improving the prediction performance, a user-specific prediction triggering threshold is proposed. The prediction outcome is utilised to perform advance HO signalling whilst suspending the periodic transmission of measurement reports. Analytical and simulation results show that the proposed scheme provides promising gains over the conventional approach
- …