The E3 architecture: enabling future cellular networks with cognitive and self-x capabilities

  • Authors:

  • Klaus Nolte;Alexandros Kaloxylos;Kostas Tsagkaris;Thomas Rosowski;Makis Stamatelatos;Aristi Galani;Eckard Bogenfeld;Panagis Magdalinos;Jens Tiemann;Jens Gebert;Paul Arnold;Dirk von Hugo;Nancy Alonistioti;Panagiotis Demestichas;Wolfgang Koenig

  • Affiliations:

  • Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Stuttgart, Germany;University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Illisia, Greece;University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece;Deutsche Telekom AG Laboratories, Berlin, Germany;University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Illisia, Greece;University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece;Deutsche Telekom AG Laboratories, Berlin, Germany;University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Illisia, Greece;Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Germany;Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Stuttgart, Germany;Deutsche Telekom AG Laboratories, Berlin, Germany;Deutsche Telekom AG Laboratories, Berlin, Germany;University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Illisia, Greece;University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece;Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Stuttgart, Germany

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Network Management
  • Year:
  • 2010

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Abstract

Future mobile networks are expected to be complex heterogeneous systems. On the one hand this will enable users to take advantage of a number of different access technologies. On the other hand it will seriously affect network management procedures since more extensive operations and decisions will have to be dealt with. To tackle these challenges a number of new dynamic mechanisms need to be designed. It is imperative that certain network management tasks have to be performed without human intervention to reduce the OPEX costs and achieve faster responses in different events. To achieve this goal, the introduction of self-x functionalities, combined with cognitive mechanisms and the ability to reconfigure network entities and terminals, is required. Moreover, the introduction of a new pilot channel needs to be considered to assist the terminals in selecting the most suitable radio access technology according to their requirements. We present the functional architecture of an evolved network that was designed in the context of the EU-funded IP project 'E3: End-to-End Efficiency'. This architecture aims to enhance existing procedures usually performed in traditional operation and maintenance systems (e.g. spectrum management, network planning, configuration actions). We explain the rationale of our design and provide specific examples to illustrate the role of the different functional entities and their interfaces. A considerable part of this architecture has recently been approved as a feasibility study by the ETSI Committee Reconfigurable Radio System. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.