Resource Control Architecture in Heterogeneous Networks

TISPAN,from a fixed access perspective,proposes Resource and Admission Control Subsystem[0](RACS) as a solution to Quality of Service(QoS) problem for NGN bearer network.In contrast,3GPP has an approach to this from the perspective of mobile access.In the latest 3GPP R7 draft,integration of Policy Control Function(PCF) with Flow Based Charging(FBC) function of the R6 brought forward policy control and charging.With the development of fixed mobile convergence,the inconsistence in architectures and interfaces of different resource and admission control[0] solutions will have a huge impact on manufacture and network implementation of NGN related equipment.To solve this problem,both 3GPP and TISPAN have been working on the convergence of Gq’/Rx reference points.Harmonized Policy Control and Charging(PCC) proposed by the Next Generation Mobile Network(NGMN) forum,i.e.cooperative resource control architecture for heterogeneous networks,represents an evolutional sign post for resource control technology for heterogeneous network architecture.

Latest Developments and Problems in Standardization of Resource Control Technologies for NGN

As a hot spot of next generation network, research over resource control has been carried out for years both in China and abroad. With a gradual progress in standardization, this field presents new development trends and features. Based on latest progresses in standardization promoted by ITU-T, TISPAN and 3GPP, new technologies concerned with resource control are introduced. Considering the problems faced in standardization deployment, relevant resource control functions are also analyzed in this article.

Resource and Admission Control in NGN

After the separation of service control from transport function in the Next Generation Network (NGN), a concept of the Resource and Admission Control (RAC) was introduced to ensure the Quality of Service (QoS). It hides the details of transport network to the service layer to support the separation of service control from transport function. It detects the resource status of transport network to secure a correct and reasonable usage of transport network resources. This accordingly ensures there are sufficient resources available to guarentee the appropriate level of QoS and avoid bandwidth and service stealing. The functional architecture, the entity involved and reference point, the access type and terminal, the resource control mode, the selection mechanism between functional entities, the interconnection between different domains, and the interaction between other transport control functions are the core study content of RAC. The RACS of the Telecoms & Internet Converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networks (TISPAN) and the Resource and Admission Control Function (RACF) of the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) differ in research focus. Consequently, the unification of Architecture, defined by different organizations, becomes the central issue of future research for each organization.

Some Issues on Computer Networks:Architecture and Key Technologies

The evolution of computer networks has experienced several major steps, and research focus of each step has been kept changing and evolving, from ARPANET to OSI/RM, then HSN （high speed network） and HPN （high performance network）. During the evolution, computer networks represented by Internet have made great progress and gained unprecedented success. However, with the appearance and intensification of tussle, along with the three difficult problems （service customizing, resource control and user management） of modern network, it is found that traditional Internet and its architecture no longer meet the requirements of next generation network. Therefore, it is the next generation network that current Internet must evolve to. With the mindset of achieving valuable guidance for research on next generation network, this paper firstly analyzes some dilemmas facing current Internet and its architecture, and then surveys some recent influential research work and progresses in computer networks and related areas, including new generation network architecture, network resource control technologies, network management and security, distributed computing and middleware, wireless/mobile network, new generation network services and applications, and foundational theories on network modeling. Finally, this paper concludes that within the research on next generation network, more attention should be paid to the high availability network and corresponding architecture, key theories and supporting technologies.