NGN Need And Challenges

S. N. Dharwadkar, F.Y M.Tech, College of Engineering, Pune, India, shri dharwadkar~a)rediffmail.com

M. P. Dale, College of Engineering Pune, India, manishadalegyahoo.com
N. Masood, MES College of Engineering, Pune, India, nabegha @rediffmail.com
Dr. M. A. Joshi, College of Engineering. Pune, India. punemajoshi@gmail.com

Keywords: Next Generation Network(NGN),
Protocol(IP), Unification of networks and services.
Abstract:
The technological advancements in telecommunication is
forcing a trend towards unification of network and services,
setting up a stage for the emergence of Next Generation
Network-NGN. NGN is essentially an IP based network that
enables any category of customers to receive wide range of
services such as voice, data and video over the same network.
The service layer in NGN is independent of underlying
network and access is enabled across a wide range of
broadband technologies, both wireless such as 3G, Wi-Fi.
WiMax and wire line such as Copper DSL, cable, fiber etc. A
single IP network replaces the different transport networks.
The Migration to NGN reduces network and operational
complexity resulting in better and reliable service. It offers
unrestricted access by users to different service provider It
supports generalized mobility, which will consistent provision
of services to users. In migration to NGN security is crucial.
In IP based, which is convergent and has open environment,
network infrastructure must be flexible and open towards
various types of service. Although NGN offers almost ideal
characteristics in mobile networking implementation of it
have some serious problems to face. Lot Of research is going
on issues like vertical hand-off, automatic billing system also
quality of system.
Internet capture almost 100% the implementation methodology holds
the key in the upcoming years. All the existing systems were
designed independently, targeting different service utilities,
data rates and users. All these systems have their own merits
and demerits, there is no single system that is good enough to
replace all the other technologies. To migrate current system
to 4G with features expected, designer have to face a number
of challenges. This paper throws a light on general
architecture of 4G networks. Also it explains different
challenges faced by design engineers in implementing this
architecture. Section 2 explains connections related to the 4G
networks. Section 3 defines the architecture of the NGN
networks along with different networking layers. It also
throws light on the concept and use of abstraction layer.
Section 4 defines challenges face in the implementation of
NGN networks along with some solutions. Section 5 briefly
explains some resent research work done in the mobile
networks.
2. 4G Networks:
Figure I highlights the seamless connections of the network

1. Introduction:
Upcoming 4G mobile communication systems are projected
to solve still remaining problems of 3G systems and to
provide a wide variety of new services from high quality
voice to high definition video to high data rate wireless
channels. The rapid development of wireless communication
networks expecting that the fourth generation mobile systems
will be launched within decades [1][2][4]. Fourth generation
network is also termed as "MAGIC". Mobile multimedia,
Anytime anywhere, Global mobility support, Integrated
wireless solution and Customized personal device. 4G mobile PAN4. 4AfA.VA
systems mainly give focus on seamlessly integrating the 'AILA
existing wireless technologies including GSM, Wirelss LAN
and Bluetooth. The future 4G infrastructures will consist of a
set of various networks using IP as a common protocol so that Fig. 1. 4G Network Connections
users are in control because they will be able to choose every Various heterogeneous networks are connected through single
application and environment. Based on the developing trends IP network. The second generation of mobile networks (2G)
of mobile communication, 4G will have broader bandwidth, is consider as a voice centric, the third generation of mobile
higher data rate and smoother and quicker handoff and will networks (3G) supports basic multimedia communication and
focus on ensuring seamless service across a multitude of also allows to access the data networks. 2G and 3G systems
wireless systems and networks. Although 4G is expected to are basically characterized by one type of air interface and

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 services are provided almost solely by operators themselves.
It is expected in 46 that different operators cooperate to offer
services and applications over heterogeneous access
networks.
3. System Concept:
The scope of 46 systems will range from wireless
transmission mechanisms up to the services visible to the end
user [1][2]. Abstraction layers consists of transmission
platform, networking platform, middleware platform (with
service support) along with application and services. Each
layer can be configured separately and independently via
configuration interfaces. These interfaces are used to either
parameterize existing elements of each layer or to add,
exchange or remove elements, possible due to well-defined
interfaces supported by each element. Figure 2 shows 46-
sytem architecture with different interfacing layers.
Fig. 2. 46 System Architecture
An abstraction layer is a conceptual home for several open
platforms providing actual computational behavior. With this
concept one can achieve adaptability can in the system
architecture of 46 systems. In mobile networking there is
need of specific and possibly medium dependent interfaces
between the layers. Cross-layer interfaces define API'S
between different layers, which exchange the information
beyond the standard interfaces between the layers. Design of
middleware layer plays crucial role to provide effortless
development and provisioning of new and changed services.
From the point of view of the system operator, the
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middleware platform must support high flexibility to achieve
an unproblematic maintenance and evolution.
3.1. Network Resident Middleware:
Middleware abstraction layer is represented by three
platforms-Local execution platform, Distributed processing
platform and Service support platform. Figure 2 shows
general dependencies between the platforms and their
components. The local platform is used to add or remove
components according to the application. The distributed
processing platform provides an abstraction for interaction
between different system ports residing either on different
device or the same device. The service support platform
offers session semantics to any service requesting.
3.2. Middle Resident Middleware:
Mobile resident middleware must be reconfigurable. It must
be adaptable with respect to extension elements of particular
platforms or the addition or removal of entire platforms,
depending on device characteristics, user profiles and patterns
and also the software requirements of the client resident part
of services.
3.3. Adaptable networking platform:
In order to enhance existing network nodes and terminals new
technologies like software radio will be introduced. Software
defined radio technologies in reconfigurable terminals will
add unprecedented flexibility to add new functionality.
4. Challenges:
Although 4G offers revolution in existing mobile
communication system, still the implementation of it has
raised few challenges among the designers [1][2].
4.1. Multimode user terminals:
To design a single user terminal that can operate in different
wireless networks and to overcome the design problems such
as limitations in device size, cost, and power consumption,
Software radio is one of the best solutions offered so far. The
current software radio technology is not completely feasible
for all the existing wireless networks. We require multiple
analog sections, which increases complexity and also size of
the system [2].
4.2. Wireless system discovery:
Heterogeneous wireless systems across protocols are
incompatible with each other. In order to overcome this
challenge Open To Air (OTA) downloading approach is
proposed [2]. In this system multitude user terminals
constantly monitor a predefined broadcasting channel to
check for available networks. Once they detect a new
available network, system will download that module. We
still need to solve problems such as long downloading time
and also the slow speed.

4.3. Wireless system selection:
Every wireless system has its unique characteristics and a
particular role[1][2]. The proliferation of wireless
technologies complicates the selection of the most suitable
technology for a particular service at a particular time and
place.
The best possible solution for this type of challenge is to
select the wireless system according to the best possible fit of
user QOS requirements, available in the network resources.
4.4. Terminal mobility:
To locate and update the locations of the terminals in various
systems is one of the challenges faced by designer, along with
this performing horizontal and vertical handoff with
minimum handover latency and packet loss is the crucial part
in the design [2]. To overcome this problem some fast
handoff mechanisms are used.
4.5. Network infrastructure and QOS support:
To integrate the existing non-IP based systems, and to provide
QOS guarantee for end-to-end services that involves different
systems is another problem. In order to solve his problem a
clear and comprehensive QOS scheme for UMTS system has
been proposed. This scheme also supports interworking with
other common QOS technologies [2].
4.6. Security:
For any system, security plays very important role. The
heterogeneity of wireless networks complicates the security
issue [2]. Dynamic reconfigurable, adaptive and lightweight
security mechanisms should be developed.
4.7. Fault tolerance and survivability:
In order to minimize the failures and their impacts in any
level of tree-like topology generally used in wireless networks
forms a big challenge among the designers [2]. Failure of any
of the nodes due to some reasons all the services of the
remaining dependent nodes get blocked.
4.8. Multi operators and billing system:
4G architecture is a collection of heterogeneous networks
those are previously working independently to each other's.
Billing scheme offered by them was also different. So to
collect, manage and store the customers accounting
information from multiple service providers will be the main
challenge.
4.9. Personal mobility:
It is a really tough challenge to design new platform to
provide seamless personal mobility to users without
modifying the existing servers in heterogeneous systems.
5.Research:
Presently lots of universities are working to develop an
integrated network of all heterogeneous networks connected
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with IPV6 network platform [1]. Automatic systems for
mobility are being developed along with concepts like
software defined radio being enhanced. Leading Software
Company Math works recently developed transceiver to
support high-speed data mobility using Matlab and simulink
with FPGA Device [3].
5. 1. Software Implementation of WLAN (892.1113):
Software-Defined Radio refers to the use of software-
programmable hardware to provide flexible radio solutions.
The concept behind the technology is that it will provide
software control of radio functionality. It facilitates
implementation of some of the functional modules in a radio
system such as modulation/demodulation, coding signal
generation and link layer protocols in software. It can be used
to implement a wide range of radio applications like WLAN,
Bluetooth and cellular wireless standards.
5.2. Software Implementation of 802.11b on DSP
Processor:
This case study provides the implementation of WLAN
standard on Texas TMS320C6416 DSP based hardware
platform [5]. The problem associated with 802.11 b standard is
that it requires very high computationial power. One way to
achieve this efficiency is by implementing the physical layer
completely in the hardware. The 802.11lb medium Access
Control (MAC) layer software runs on the ARM Core. This
software implementation approach provides ease of design
modifications at any stage of the product cycle also in the
field even after deploying the solution. It also facilitates
addition of new features into the software architecture. Most
importantly it gives great deal of flexibility to make custom
changes at both physical and MAC layers for security related
applications in military, civilian and commercial areas.
5.3 802.11lb implementation Details:
Figure 3 shows the design block diagram of implementation.
The lP rich PHY algorithms and optimized implementation
on TMS 320C6416 has made it possible to run the entire
IEEE 802.1 lB PHY on a single DSP chip running at 600
MHz. The 802.11lb MAC runs on the ARM core that is
present inside the Excalibur. Communication between the
MAC and PH-Y as well as the communication between the RF
front end and PHY is aided by the logic implemented on the
Excalibur FPGA.
 References:
I .Robert Hirschfeld, Wolfgang Kellerer," An integrated
concept for fourth generation mobile computing", Eurescomn
Proceeding 2002.
2. Suk Yu, Kai Yeung," Challenge in the migration to 4G
mobile systems", IEEE Communications Magazine,
Alul December 2003.
PCI 3. www~.niathxworks.corn
BRIDGE4.Jawad lbrahim,"4G Features", Bechtel Telecommunications
RT technical Journal, December 2002.
5. Suyog Deshpande, 'Software Implementation of 802.11Lb
INTERF~ACE Wireless WLAN Standard", Sr.MTS: HelloSoft, Inc, San
Jose, CA, USA

Fig. 3: 802.1 lb Implementation

The complete code is written with a mix of ANSI C and
assembly coding. Real time modules are hand-coded in
assembly and the non-real time modules are in 16-bit fixed
point ANSI C.
6. Conclusion:
NGN provides revolution in the mobile networks but
implementation of this concept will have some questions to
solve. The speed at which this research is being carried out
no doubt within this decade NGN is going to capture the
whole market of mobile.

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