Technical approach

Future communication systems will be composed of many different radio access systems. In addition, these systems will consist of dynamically configured distributed components. The resources required from these systems will be used and accessed in an optimised way, while the complexity within the communication space remains hidden. During the past years, the wireless communications and computing sectors have led the way to the development of a wide range of technologies like 2G, 3G, WLAN, WMAN or DVB and their associated equipments. This implements a valuable diversification of the radio eco-space that has already made a technology push towards multimode devices and produced significant investment into research of new technologies, services and business models adapted for collaborative heterogeneous radio systems. Within the communication space formed by these technologies, the users will benefit from end-to-end reconfigurability by reaching the required services, at affordable cost, in different heterogeneous contexts, using diverse equipment and through the different available technologies. The E2R architectural framework, enabling the seamless experience, is depicted in the following figure. The user will be at the centre of the future telecommunications environment, using heterogeneous devices (such as end-user mobiles, personal network equipments, etc.), in heterogeneous environments and contexts (such as the home, office, transportation, on the move, etc.) and through heterogeneous access systems (such as fixed, wireless local area networks, cellular and broadcast technologies).

E2R Architectural Framework

[Click here to enlarge]

Building on the findings and developments of E2R I, E2R II will demonstrate technologies that enable a true seamless experience based on reconfigurable heterogeneous systems . E2R II will pursue research into those directions that proved most promising towards helping removing walls (current technical, busines and regulatory limitations) and building bridges (technical) in order to enable the vision of end-to-end connectivity to come true.

The E2R II main scientific and technological objectives that will allow achieving the end-to-end reconfigurability vision are the following:

• Develop and evaluate an overall reconfigurability system architecture and deployment concept considering actors (e.g. user, operators, vendors, service providers, etc.) requirements and views, as well as regulatory perspectives, and to overcome the current technological barriers by furthering the state-of-the-art of the key enabling technologies,
• Design and validate the system concepts, theoretical tools and technical solutions that will enable the use of reconfigurable equipments and networks for seamless and transparent communication across collaborative heterogeneous environments (multiple domains, multiple operators),
• Design and validate the system mechanisms necessary to facilitate resource aware and efficient access and use of radio resources, by employing cognition based mechanisms for optimised access to resources in the heterogeneous radio environment, Devise governing principles in a way that benefits all the players within the radio eco-system by exploiting the diverse nature of the heterogeneous radio environment,
• Develop a evolutionary proof-of-concept framework to validate and prototype the developed concepts and mechanisms,
• Exploit, disseminate and standardise the E2R technologies, providing a forum by actively contributing to the relevant standardisation bodies, industry fora and regulatory bodies.

The approach adopted by the E2R I consortium is depicted in the following figure, wherein three main components were initially depicted:

1. E2R System Research, Business Path and Technology Roadmaps is focusing towards compelling scenarios and user requirements of the radio eco-system, building on FP5 projects and other ongoing WWI integrated projects via cross issues instrument. In addition, the corresponding roadmap of the identified key enabling technologies within an overall architecture, re-enforced by regulatory rules, is helping to set out a clear path of End-to-End reconfigurability within the radio eco-space,
2. Core Technology Research, Design and Proof of Concept constituted another area of work within the E²R charter. Research work is encompassing the technologies needed to transform embedded flexibility into end-to-end reconfigurability, while finding the right balance between integrated versus distributed approaches. This would yield the optimisation of resources (spectrum, radio, network and equipment) and reconfiguration functions (discovery, negotiations, control and triggering),
3. E2R Proof of Concept Evolutionary Platform is enabling the validation of the charter of E²R as a whole, thus establishing the proof of concept of the overall system within the radio eco-space.

E2R I Research Components

[Click here to enlarge]

Within this approach structure, not only the phasing is seen as important for risk minimisation, but also the articulation of the approach in:

• Leveraging on existing systems, sub-systems and achievements from FP5 and associated partners,
• Refining the overall architecture, business path, technology roadmaps, regulation rules and (re)-orienting the technology development of each of the sub-system components,
• Delivering mature enabling technologies of the radio eco-space components to the overall evolutionary proof-of-concept environment.

The approach adopted by the consortium in E2R II is depicted in the following figure The E2R II is structured around two main research components, building on E2R I and other FP6/FP5 projects and initiatives, and targeting the E2R Beyond 3G System enabling the seamless experience to the users:

1. E2R II Research Challenges will focus on progressing the challenges that the E2R project is addressing, such as enabling the sustainable business development of reconfigurable systems, the end-to-end reconfiguration management and control architectural framework, the efficiency enhancement of radio resource and spectrum, and the end-to-end seamless connectivity as well as building the European reference prototyping environment for end-to-end reconfigurable systems and solutions.
2. E2R II Research Domain Skills will bring the expertise within the cognitive networks, reconfigurable equipment and proof-of-concept research domains, serving the different challenges, and targeting standardisation and regulatory contributions.

E²R II Research Components

[Click here to enlarge]

As initially planned, synchronisation points with time intervals (during the 6-year lifetime) between the different components will establish the convergence to a set of common functionalities to be deployed on the E²R Beyond 3G System. The adopted approach for E2R II is emphasising the synchronisations between the different research areas of the project.

This E2R II approach results in a natural cycle of continuous technology watch and short-medium-long term conceptual research while guaranteeing the development and delivery of enabling technologies realising the Beyond 3G Seamless Experience.