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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2010.04.005 Byline: Xavier Gelabert, Oriol Sallent, Jordi Perez-Romero, Ramon Agusti Keywords: Mobile communication systems; Cognitive radio networks; Markov processes; Queuing theory; Model validation and analysis Abstract: An efficient and utmost utilization of currently scarce and underutilized radio spectrum resources has stimulated the introduction of what has been coined Cognitive Radio (CR) access methodologies and implementations. While the long-established approach has been based on licensed (or primary) spectrum access, this new communication paradigm enables an opportunistic secondary access to shared spectrum resources provided mutual interference is kept below acceptable levels. In this paper we address the problem of primary-secondary spectrum sharing in cognitive radio access networks using a framework based on a Discrete Time Markov Chain (DTMC) model. Its applicability and advantages with respect to other approaches is explained and further justified. Spectrum awareness of primary activity by the secondary users is based on spectrum sensing techniques, which are modeled in order to capture sensing errors in the form of false-alarm and missed-detection. Model validation is successfully achieved by means of a system-level simulator which is able to capture the system behavior with high degree of accuracy. Parameter dependencies and potential tradeoffs are identified enabling an enhanced operation for both primary and secondary users. The suitability of the specified model is justified while allowing a wide range of extended implementations and enhanced capabilities to be considered. Author Affiliation: Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC), Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain Article History: Received 14 January 2010; Revised 27 March 2010; Accepted 6 April 2010 Article Note: (miscellaneous) Responsible Editor: M.C. Vuran

In this paper, an innovative mechanism to perform joint radio resource management (JRRM) in the context of heterogeneous radio access networks is introduced. In particular, a fuzzy neural algorithm that is able to ensure certain quality-of-service (QoS) constraints in a multicell scenario deployment with three different radio access technologies (RATs), namely, the wireless local area network (WLAN), the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), and the global system for mobile communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) radio access network (GERAN), is discussed. The proposed fuzzy neural JRRM algorithm is able to jointly manage the common available radio resources operating in two steps. The first step selects a suitable combination of cells built around the three available RATs, while the second step chooses the most appropriate RAT to which a user should be attached. A proper granted bit rate is also selected for each user in the second step. Different implementations are presented and compared, showing that the envisaged fuzzy neural methodology framework, which is able to cope with the complexities and uncertainties of heterogeneous scenarios, could be a promising choice. Furthermore, simulation results show that the reinforcement learning mechanisms introduced in the proposed JRRM methodology allow guaranteeing the QoS requirement in terms of the so-called user dissatisfaction probability in the presence of different traffic loads and under different dynamic situations. Also, the proposed framework is able to take into consideration different operator policies as well as different subjective criteria by means of a multiple decision-making mechanism, such as balancing the traffic among the RATs or giving more priority to the selection of one RAT in front of another one. Index Terms--Beyond third-generation (3G) networks, fuzzy neural controllers, joint radio resource management (JRRM), radio access technology (RAT) selection.

In this letter, a type II hybrid automatic repeat request scheme is considered as a retransmission strategy in a direct-sequence code-division multiple-access packet mobile radio network. An analysis based on the Equilibrium Point Analysis is presented to model the behavior of the system in a message-based traffic generation model. A simulation approach is introduced to validate the proposed analytical model obtaining results that closely match those derived theoretically. Index Terms--Automatic repeat request (ARQ), channel coding, code-division multiple access (CDMA), Markov processes, packet radio.

In this paper, an inhibit sense multiple access-direct sequence/code division multiple access (ISMA-DS/CDMA) medium access control protocol for a packet transmission mobile radio network is presented. The main feature of this protocol is its ability to retain the inherent flexibility of random access protocols while at the same time reducing to some extent the randomness in the access in order to increase the system capacity. In this framework, the protocol is presented together with some adaptive mechanisms that improve the protocol performance by means of regulating the access and varying the transmission bit rate according to the channel load that is broadcast by the base station. As a result, an adaptive bit rate algorithm is presented that reaches a throughput value close to the theoretical maximum. Index Terms--Access protocols, code division multiaccess, packet radio.

This paper presents a novel adaptive direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS-CDMA) slotted-ALOHA (SALOHA) packet random-access scheme with transmitter-based spreading codes for mobiles. It is aimed at improving throughput and message delay delivery when traffic load values below the saturation point of the conventional DS-CDMA S-ALOHA system are sensed in the channel. For this purpose, one mobile-station (MS) and two base-station (BS)-assisted algorithms are envisaged to control the change of the transmission rate according to the traffic load. These algorithms revealed that the optimum behavior, obtained using a Markov chain model, may almost be reached at a low-complexity cost. A traffic model based on a realistic statistical length distribution of the messages illustrates how the delay delivery can be greatly reduced with the proposed algorithms. Finally, the impact of forward-error-correction (FEC) coding on the adaptive system is also studied. Index Terms - Access protocols, code-division multiaccess, packet radio.

Spatial diversity is an attractive technology to cope with the fading channel encountered in mobile communications. This paper presents novel closed analytical expressions of the bit-error rate (BER) achievable in a coherent binary phase-shift-keying (CBPSK) direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) system for any power delay profile and for either postdetection selection or maximal ratio combining (MRC). In particular, expressions for the cutoff rate [R.sub.o] and for its related parameter D are also formulated in order to assess the system performance under the consideration of some channel coding schemes. Finally, an exemplary study is carried out in order to illustrate the behavior of a realistic space-diversity code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system according to the analytical expressions that have been derived. Index Terms - Channel coding, code-division multiple access, fading channel, mobile communications, spatial diversity.

In this paper, the bit error rate (BER) performance of predetection diversity trellis coded multilevel phase shift keying (TCM-MPSK) and postdetection diversity trellis coded multilevel differential phase shift keying (TCM-MDPSK), transmitted over a Rayleigh fading channel is presented. Novel analytical upper bounds using the transfer function bounding technique are obtained and illustrated by several numerical examples. A new asymptotically tight upper bound for the Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) diversity schemes is also derived. In order to analyze practical TCM schemes (four or more states), only trellis codes holding uniform error property (UEP) and uniform distance property (UDP) are considered, enabling the encoder transfer function to be obtained from a modified state transition diagram, having no more states than the encoder itself. Monte-Carlo simulation results, which are more indicative of the exact system performance, are also given.

Code-division multiple-access (CDMA) schemes appear to be very promising access techniques for coping with the requirements of third-generation mobile systems, mainly because of their flexibility. This paper proposes an adaptive S-ALOHA DS-CDMA access scheme as a method for integrating nonreal-time (i.e., Internet applications) and real-time (i.e., voice) services in a multicell scenario by exploiting the potentials of CDMA under time-varying channel load conditions. The adaptive component makes data terminals autonomously change their transmission rate according to the total (voice+data) channel occupancy, so that the minimum possible data delay, which can be analytically obtained by defining a birth--death process, is almost always achieved. Moreover, by means of a simplified cellular model, the proposed algorithm revealed the same behavior, i.e., it tries to select the most suitable transmission rate at any time slot, when it is affected by intercell interference and even by power control imperfections. Finally, in order to gain more insight into the potentials of such an access strategy, the adaptive S-ALOHA CDMA scheme is then compared to a reservation time-division multiple-access (TDMA)-based protocol (PRMA++), showing the benefits of the CDMA-based solution in terms of capacity, flexibility, and data delay performance. Index Terms--CDMA, mobile communications, multiple-access protocols.

Network slicing is a fundamental capability for future Fifth Generation (5G) networks to facilitate the cost-effective deployment and operation of multiple logical networks over a common physical network infrastructure in a way that each logical network (i.e. network slice) can be customized and dimensioned to best serve the needs of specific applications (e.g. mobile broadband, smart city, connected car, public safety, fixed wireless access) and users (e.g. general public, enterprise customers, virtual operators, content providers). The practical realization of such capability still raises numerous technical challenges, both in the Core and RAN parts of the 5G system. Through a comprehensive analysis of the impact that the realization of RAN slicing has on the different layers of the radio interface protocol architecture, this article proposes a framework for the support and specification of RAN slices based on the definition of a set of configuration descriptors that characterize the features, policies and resources to be put in place across the radio protocol layers of a next-generation RAN node. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Network slicing is a fundamental capability for future 5G networks to properly support current and envisioned future application scenarios. Network slicing facilitates a cost-effective deployment and operation of multiple logical networks over a common physical network infrastructure such that each network is customized to best serve the needs of specific applications (e.g., mobile broadband, Internet of Things applications) and/or communications service providers (e.g., special purpose service providers for different sectors such as public safety, utilities, smart city, and automobiles). Slicing a RAN becomes particularly challenging due to the inherently shared nature of the radio channel and the potential influence that any transmitter may have on any receiver. In this respect, this article analyzes the RAN slicing problem in a multi-cell network in relation to the RRM functionalities that can be used as a support for splitting the radio resources among the RAN slices. Four different RAN slicing approaches are presented and compared from different perspectives, such as the granularity in the assignment of radio resources and the degrees of isolation and customization. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper focuses on a heterogeneous scenario in which cellular and wireless local area technologies coexist and mobile devices are enabled with device-to-device (D2D) communication capabilities. In this context, this paper assumes a network architecture in which a given user equipment (UE) can receive mobile service either by connecting directly to a cellular base station (BS) or by connecting through another UE that acts as an access point (AP) and relays the traffic from a cellular BS. This paper investigates the optimization of the connectivity of different UEs with the target to minimize the total transmission power. An optimization framework is presented, and a distributed strategy based on Q-learning and softmax decision-making is proposed as a means to solve the considered problem with reduced complexity. The proposed strategy is evaluated under different conditions, and it is shown that the strategy achieves a performance very close to the optimum. Moreover, significant transmission power reductions of approximately 40% are obtained with respect to the classical approach, in which all UEs are connected to the cellular infrastructure. For multicell scenarios, in which the optimum solution cannot be easily known a priori, the proposed approach is compared against a centralized genetic algorithm. The proposed approach achieves similar performance in terms of total transmitted power while exhibiting much lower computational requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, the problem of resource allocation optimization is studied for a single-cell multiuser cognitive radio network in the presence of primary user networks. The spectral access of the cognitive radio network is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). A joint bandwidth and power allocation is performed so that users' rate requirements are satisfied, and the integrity of primary user communication is preserved. In this work, two unique challenges are addressed. The first is the incorporation of primary user activity in the design of resource allocation technique, and the second is the limited hardware capabilities of cognitive terminals compared to those available at the cognitive base station. To address these problems, a novel resource allocation framework is proposed based on the bandwidth-power product minimization, which is an effective metric in evaluating the spectral resource consumption in a cognitive radio environment. The framework takes into consideration the challenges aforementioned. The results show significant enhancement in spectral efficiency by using our framework compared to classical power adaptive optimization using iterative waterfilling scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The future digital home (DH) is envisioned as a place where a plethora of diverse personal and machine-to-machine communications will coexist to support different applications in areas such as information and entertainment, home automation, home health care and home security and management. Wireless technologies are usually the preferred solution to cope with DH communications for their ease of installation and use. However, expected capacity demand and the lack of coordination between an increasing number of diverse wireless devices in use within the DH is seriously challenging the performance and usability of wireless technologies. This article outlines a novel technical solution intended to enhance capacity and quality of DH wireless communications. The proposed solution establishes a radio-independent coexistence framework where key operational radio settings of DH devices are coordinately determined, and new spectrum sources other than traditional ISM bands can be exploited for DH communications. The addressed solution enables a business player to offer management services for DH wireless communications so that ordinary users can be relieved of complex management tasks likely to arise within the DH. The article discusses how potential management service providers could benefit from the proposed solution. Besides, the functional architecture of the proposed solution together with the set of procedures necessary for the management of the DH wireless communications are outlined. A realistic indoor scenario is presented as an illustrative use case to show how proper decision making logic in managing the DH could improve the efficiency by selecting the most suitable spectrum for in-house wireless communications. Finally, the main implementation issues are identified and discussed in order to outline a feasible roadmap [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Proposes a scheduling strategy for radio resource management (RRM) for quality of service guaranteed in wireless code division multiple access systems. Different steps in scheduling strategy; Evaluation of the performance of the scheduling strategy; Validation of the implementation of RMM.

In this letter a Discrete-Time Markov Chain (DTMC) framework is adopted to capture the effect of flexible spectrum channelization for the opportunistic access of secondary users (SUs) in a primary-secondary shared spectrum scenario. Two implementation alternatives are proposed: a fixed channelization scheme (FCS) and an adaptive channelization scheme (ACS). Moreover, service-type characterization of SUs is also addressed by defining time vs. volume based services. Results indicate the suitability of the ACS over the FCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]