Ambient Networks defines a new kind of network architecture, which embeds support for co operation and competition between diverse network types within a common control layer. This unified networking concept can adapt to the heterogeneous environments of different radio technologies and service and network environments. Special focus is placed on facilitating both competition and co-operation of various market players, by defining interfaces which allow the instant negotiation of cooperation agreements. The Ambient Networking concept has been developed in the framework of the Ambient Networks project, which is co-sponsored by the European Union under the Information Society Technology (IST) priority of the 6th Framework Programme. The Ambient Networks project mobilised the work of researchers from over forty different organisations, both major industrial corporations and leading academic institutions, from Europe and worldwide. This book offers a complete and detailed overview of the Ambient Networking concept and its core technologies. The authors explain the problems with current mobile IP networks and the need for a new mobility-aware IP-based control architecture, before presenting the Ambient Networking concept itself and the business opportunities that it offers. The architecture, components, features and challenges of Ambient Networking are covered in depth, with comprehensive discussions of multi-radio access, generic Ambient Network signalling, mobility support, context and network management and built-in media delivery overlay control. Ambient Networks: Co-operative Mobile Networking for the Wireless World Explains the need for Ambient Networking, discussing the limitations of today s proposed architectures, and explaining the business potential of edge networks and network co-operation. Describes Ambient Networking technology in detail, and addresses the technical challenges for implementation. Includes practical user scenarios which are fully analysed and assessed through simulation studies. Including a complete examination of the research and technologies arising from the Ambient Networks concept, Ambient Networks will be invaluable for research and development teams in networking and communications technology, as well as advanced students in electrical engineering and computer science faculties. Standardisation specialists, research departments, and telecommunications analysts will also find this a helpful resource.

Ambient Networks defines a new kind of network architecturewhich embeds support for co operation and competition betweendiverse network types within a common control layer. This unifiednetworking concept can adapt to the heterogeneous environments ofdifferent radio technologies and service and networkenvironments. Special focus is placed on facilitating bothcompetition and co-operation of various market players, by defininginterfaces which allow the instant negotiation of cooperationagreements. The Ambient Networking concept has been developedin the framework of the Ambient Networks project, which isco-sponsored by the European Union under the Information SocietyTechnology (IST) priority of the 6th Framework Programme. TheAmbient Networks project mobilised the work of researchers fromover forty different organisations, both major industrialcorporations and leading academic institutions, from Europe andworldwide.This book offers a complete and detailed overview of the AmbientNetworking concept and its core technologies. The authorsexplain the problems with current mobile IP networks and the needfor a new mobility-aware IP-based control architecture, beforepresenting the Ambient Networking concept itself and the businessopportunities that it offers. The architecture, componentsfeatures and challenges of Ambient Networking are covered in depthwith comprehensive discussions of multi-radio access, genericAmbient Network signalling, mobility support, context and networkmanagement and built-in media delivery overlay control.Ambient Networks: Co-operative Mobile Networking for theWireless World* Explains the need for Ambient Networking, discussing thelimitations of today's proposed architectures, and explainingthe business potential of edge networks and networkco-operation.* Describes Ambient Networking technology in detail, andaddresses the technical challenges for implementation.* Includes practical user scenarios which are fully analysed andassessed through simulation studies.Including a complete examination of the research andtechnologies arising from the Ambient Networks concept, AmbientNetworks will be invaluable for research and development teamsin networking and communications technology, as well as advancedstudents in electrical engineering and computer sciencefaculties. Standardisation specialists, research departmentsand telecommunications analysts will also find this a helpfulresource.

Acknowledgements ix1 Introduction 11.1 The Current Communications Environment 11.2 The Ambient Networking Concept 41.3 The Ambient Networks Project 41.4 How to Read This Book 51.5 Outlook 62 Ambient Networks - The Consequence of Convergence 72.1 Convergence Leading Towards Ambient Networks 72.2 Realization of Convergence 82.3 Converged All-IP Networks 92.4 Network Convergence with the IP Multimedia Subsystem 122.5 Towards Ambient Networks 182.6 Motivation for a New Approach 192.7 Architectural Requirements for Ambient Networks 212.8 Summary 263 The Business Environment for Ambient Networks 273.1 Business Drivers and Benefi ts 273.2 Business Actors 303.3 The AN Business Proposition: The Value Network 333.4 Financial Aspects 373.5 Network Composition - Business View 383.6 Migration Aspects 403.7 Summary 424 Architecture and Components 434.1 Introduction 434.2 The Ambient Network Approach 444.3 The Ambient Control Space Concept 464.4 The Ambient Layer Model 534.5 Summary 645 Security in Ambient Networks 655.1 Introduction 655.2 Security Problem Space in Ambient Networks 675.3 Security Architecture 705.4 Key Problems and Solutions 795.5 Conclusion, Outlook and Further Work 926 Network Composition 936.1 Introduction and Motivation 936.2 Composition Procedures 946.3 Definition of Composition Types 976.4 Conclusions 1057 GANS - Generic Ambient Networks Signalling 1077.1 Introduction 1077.2 State of the Art 1107.3 Protocol Architecture 1147.4 GANS Transport Layer Protocol 1167.5 QoS Signalling Application 1187.6 Conclusions 1248 Multi-Radio Access 1258.1 Introduction 1258.2 Multi Radio Access - Problems and State of the Art 1288.3 The AN Multi-Radio Access Architecture 1338.4 Access Selection 1388.5 Challenging Multi-Radio Access Networking Scenarios 1468.6 Deployment Cost Savings 1518.7 Migration Issues 1548.8 Conclusion, Outlook and Further Work 1549 Ambient Networks Mobility Management 1579.1 Background and Motivation 1579.2 The Framework for Mobility Management 1599.3 Functional Entities 1669.4 Trigger Mechanisms 16910 Overlay Networks for Media Delivery 17710.1 Introduction 17710.2 Why Media Delivery Support in the Network Infrastructure? 17810.3 Media Delivery Architecture 18110.4 Concept Evaluation and Demonstration 19610.5 Conclusion, Outlook and Further Work 20111 ContextWare - Context Awareness in Ambient Networks 20311.1 Introduction 20311.2 Network Context Awareness 20411.3 Context Awareness in Ambient Networks 20611.4 Ambient Networks ContextWare: Architecture and System Design 21111.5 ContextWare Prototypes 22311.6 Conclusions 23012 Towards Ambient Networks Management 23112.1 Introduction 23112.2 Ambient Networks Management Challenges 23412.3 Ambient Networks Management Approaches 23512.4 Conclusions 255References 261Abbreviations 269Index 273