IP-based Radio Access Network (IP-RAN) Design

 

The project is focused on wireless networks where a radio access network replaces point to point links for the interconnection of base stations to radio network controllers (RNC). Using IP to create a radio access network (RAN) will help support anticipated explosive growth of wireless data, merge service and sharing of transport for wireless and wire-line networks, increase scalability, enhance reliability, simplify management and reduce operation cost. The major problem in wireless networks has been how to achieve good utilization of scarce air interface resources. With the introduction of IP RAN, despite its benefits, there is a need for new algorithms for resource control to cope with the strict delay requirements and radio related functionality of IP RAN. The goal of this project is to show that Radio Network Control (RNC) functionality can be implemented in a scalable manner and the IP network is able to support CDMA voice and data efficiently and effectively. We have designed a set of algorithms to effectively control both the load of air interface and backhaul to guarantee the target transmission quality between the mobiles and RNC. In particular, we have proposed and evaluated three congestion control mechanisms to maximize network capacity while maintaining good voice quality: admission control, diversity control, and router control. Using simulations of a large mobile network, we show that the three different control mechanisms can help gracefully manage overload in the IP RAN. This is an on-going work.


This is joint work with Researchers from Bell-Labs Research:

Sneha Kersera
Sandy Thuel
Harish Viswanathan
Ram Ramjee