Software Defined Radio: Architectures, Systems and Functions

3

The Need for Network Reconfigurability Management

Nancy Alonistioti and Nikos Houssos

Communication Networks Laboratory. University of Athens

Mobile communications are evolving from a world of monolithic and inflexible systems and service models to a highly dynamic environment, contributed by a wide variety of market players, where a plethora of ubiquitous services will provide end-users with valuable help with every aspect of their everyday activities. The realisation of this vision requires denouncing the proverbial rigidity of telecommunication networks with the introduction of programmability and reconfigurability at various levels of network functionality. Nevertheless, several challenges need to be addressed before the successful application of these concepts in real-life environments. Intelligent, mediating service management frameworks can be an important factor for successfully facing those challenges. Moreover, standardisation of open, third-party accessible reconfigurability interfaces is another crucial enabler in the demanding but hopefully rewarding series of efforts in academia and industry towards reconfigurable networks.

3.1 Introduction – The Evolution of Mobile Service Provision Towards 3G and Beyond

Supported by rapid technological advances in various research areas, the increasing trend towards open, deregulated markets is already beginning to bring about substantial changes in the telecommunications industry worldwide. The traditional model of telecommunication ...