Analysis of Access Selection Algorithms for Always Best Connected Networks

1. Analysis of Access Selection Algorithms for Always Best Connected Networks Technical Scientific Cooperation Ericsson – GPRT Dênio Mariz denio@gprt.ufpe.br Aug, 2004

2. Agenda • What is Always Best Connected ? • Challenges to realize ABC • Ericsson – GPRT research project • Technical issues • Administrative issues • Conclusion remarks

3. Global Connectivity • There is variety of deployed access technologies • 2G, 3G cellular systems: worldwide coverage • GAN, WAN, MAN, LAN, WLAN, PAN, BAN • Multiple access technologies (GSM,GPRS,WCDMA,802.11...) • WLAN have been deployed to provide hot spots access • Airports, hotels, conference centers • Provide high-bandwidth Internet access • Number of hot spot users worldwide will total 30 million in 2004, up from 9.3 million users in 2003 (source: Gardner Inc.) • Always Best Connected (ABC) refers to • Being not only always connected • But also being connected in the best possible way atall times

4. The ABC concept • Example: Worldwide GSM coverage + high bandwidth of WLAN hot spots Train/Station Hotels & conferences Public places Roaming Office Airports Home WLAN Hot Spot 3G Cellular Coverage (Data)

5. What is Best Connected ? • The definition of Best depends on different aspects • Personal preferences • Device capabilities • Application requirements • Security • Operator or corporate policies • Available network resources • Networks coverage • Price • (Other ?)

6. ABC Scenario • Maria gets up in the morning and checks her e-mail in her laptop using a DSL connection. She will have a meeting soon and starts downloading a huge document. 1

7. ABC Scenario • Maria unplug her laptop and heads for the office. The laptop automatically checks for other available accesses and finds 3G coverage. The download resumes. 2

8. ABC Scenario • Maria takes the subway and join to the already started meeting using her PDA. The conference tool adapts to the limited capabilities of the access technology (sound only). 3

9. ABC Scenario • Maria leaves the subway and walks to her office. The meeting continues on her PDA now with video (B&W). 4

10. ABC Scenario • Maria gets to the office and transfers the conference to her desktop which is connected to the WLAN. The conference tool now enables full video. 5

11. 3) Authentication request Business agreement Business agreement 2) Authentication request 1) user moves into WLAN coverage Mobility Support and AAA Access operator and ABC service provider:ACME Access operator:hotspot ACME AAAServer Hotspot AAAServer 3G access network WLAN access network AAA = Authentication, Authorization, Accounting

12. ABC terminal Accessdevices PAN or combined device Accessnetwork ABC service provider network Applicationserver Corporate network Correspondent terminal ABC Reference Model • Challenges and solutions are required along several components • Technical and business • Technical solutions for network and terminal • Agreements between access operators for mobility

13. Solution Components • Content adaptation • Profile handling • Mobility management • AAA support • Access selection • Access discovery Content adaptation Profile handling Mobility Management AAA support Access selection We are working here Access discovery

14. Access Selection • Access selection is the process of deciding over which access network to connect at any point in time • Terminal-based or Network-based selection • No user intervention desirable • Aspects to consider: • User profile (preferences) • Application requirements • Network characteristics (available bandwidth, Cost, …) • Device capabilities • Key issues in Access Selection • On line Algorithms to select the access subsystem among several available options and restrictions

15. Project Approach • The approach adopted on this research can be resumed as follows. • Selection of reference papers • Reviewing of ABC Networks concept, access technologies (WCDMA, GSM, 802.11) and online algorithms (bin-packing). • Modeling the characteristics of access technologies and services. • Preliminary selection of algorithms • Plan and develop a simulation environment tool (software) • Adaptation and implementation of a set of algorithms • Several scenarios of network, users and service configuration will be investigated using the simulation tool, based on experiments using the algorithms • The gathered results will be discussed and compared.

16. Schedule We are here

17. Activities (at this stage)

18. Conclusions • ABC concept offers • Automatic user connectivity over multiple access technologies • seamless mobility; only one bill • ABC It is a new paradigm for network integration • WPAN, WLAN, 2.5G, 3G, 4G … • New business relationships • Several technical challenges • Ericsson/GPRT project • Activities have just began • Activities course is in accordance with schedule • Closer interaction with Gabor/Sweden has been initiated

19. References • E. Gustafsson and A. Jonsson, Always Best Connected, IEEE Wireless Communications, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 49-55, Feb 2003. • Magnus Gunnarsson, Always best connected in a world of multimedia. TelephonyOnline.com, Apr 24 2003. http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_always_best_connected • D Sadok, D Mariz, C Kamienski. Analysis of Access Selection Algorithms for Always Best Connected Networks. GPRT-Ericsson Research Project Proposal. 2004. URL http://www.gprt.ufpe.br/~abc/references/ABCproject.doc • Timo Poropudas. 30 million hotspotters in 2004, says Gartner. Nordic Wireless Watch – Feb 20, 2004http://www.nordicwirelesswatch.com/wireless/story.html?story_id=3528