In addition to the prime requirement for ‘always-on’ connectivity, mobile users today are increasingly expecting fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) capabilities, such as session continuity across different access technologies. The challenge for network operators is to provide such capabilities in a cost-effective way for the range of services supported. This thesis addresses this challenge from the perspective of a next-generation network (NGN) operator. The work first determines a set of criteria with which to make a judgment on the desirability of session continuity for each service, which has been applied with a common approach to solutions design focusing on mobility management from the onset. A new type of collaboration-based Session Management for Converged Networks is described, and a catalogue of reusable, fundamental, mobility management components defined. Data measurements are presented from research and development work that substantiates the expected improvements by use of multi-OSI layer solutions, such as the one prototyped by a joint BT and Intel team and the associated architectural feasibility analysis of BT’s Next Generation Network: 21CN. As a result of the better understanding gained of the areas in which performance improvements can make a difference, a Converged Session Management Framework has been developed. It defines a number of procedural steps or phases, along with guidelines to aid the designer embarking on the definition of new applications or services that warrant implementation of mobility management. A new Mobility Management Layer (MML) concept is proposed and detailed with a working example on its use provided. A description on how MML can be used, as a competitive analysis tool is also included. This project has looked at architectural and procedural ways for “solving the mobility-management problem” for heterogeneous networks, rather than the current approach of finding optimised solutions for specific services and access technologies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:625742 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | De Carvalho, F. A. |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1380944/ |
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