Abstract
The increasing demand for the availability of mobile data transfer is closely linked with the development of new technologies that offer the end-users an opportunity to access web data. The process of technological development means the constant increase of the access speed, as well as the decrease of the access costs. Therefore, IMT technology is regarded as one of the rapidly developing data access technologies that offer the required mobility level for the end-users, as well as the high effectiveness of the equipment.
IMT advanced technology which is also known as 4G standard is featured with 1 Gbit/s speed for low mobility communication, and 100 Mbit/s for high mobility. The associated technologies LTE of the IEEE 802.16m standard offer the necessary capabilities for meeting the required criteria of connection speed and reliability. However, a different interface will be required for these standards, as the existing standards do not offer to reach the peak of the connection and data transmission speed.
The 4G standard is regarded as rather potential for high-speed HD video transmission as well. The codecs that are used for service terminals are MPEG-4 based, and these allow achieving HD translations with up to 5 Mbps. CDN standards are not widely available at the moment, however, the speed increase will be up to 6Mbps for the existing networks.
Introduction
International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) Advanced is another step in developing the wireless connection for media data transmission. In general, the 4G system is intended for offering a comprehensive, secure all-IP solution for broadband data transmission that may be available for any mobile devices, including cell phones, laptops, play stations, or wireless modems.
This is regarded as the development of LTE technology which is known as the 3G standard, and such standards as HSPA, LTE for 4G connections, as well as network architecture requirements will be different for this type of connection. This paper aims to outline the key requirements for the network architecture with the use of 4G technologies of speed connections and explain the key standards of connection that will be used in IMT advanced technologies.
Network Architecture
The architecture of the 4G network uses the all-IP principle that is common for wireless networks. IMT advanced standard presupposes that the IP allocation is performed by IPv4 principles, however, the aim is to make it suitable for IPv6.
It is emphasized by Dahlman and Parkvall (2008), the wireless telecommunications adjusted by 4G standard, employ wide channel OFDMA and SC-FDE technologies. The architecture of such networks is based on MIMO transmission. Since the most important aspect of 4G technology s LTE, the network architecture that can integrate 2G/3G and 4G functions involves a single node separate access principle. However, the multimedia core is multiple. This principle is quite helpful for adjusting the IEEE 802.16 principles.
As is emphasized by Mishra (2007), the 4G system was offered by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), this agency defined the end-to-end IP architecture for 4G connections and networks. The key principle of this architecture is peer-to-peer networking when each device in the network is represented as a transceiver, receiver, and router for other devices in the network. Anand (2010, p. 412) emphasizes the following statement for the architecture principle:
In 4G systems, the circuit-switched infrastructure is abandoned, and only a packet-switched network is provided, while 2.5G and 3G systems require both packet-switched and circuit-switched network nodes, i.e. two infrastructures in parallel. This means that in 4G, traditional voice calls are replaced by IP telephony.
Therefore, the network architecture structure will be created avoiding the outdated CSCF standard, and some control layer functions of the new architecture will be carried by service layers.
High-Speed Packet Access
First, it should be emphasized that HSPA is featured with the increased speed of data transmission which is up to 14 Mbit/s. The key feature of this standard is the decreased latency of IP requests, as well as the increased system capacity that helped to reduce the overall cost for bit transmission in comparison with the standard WCDMA protocols. In general, HSPA is often regarded as the predecessor of ECP functions, which are further moved to LTE. Hence, EPC functions are often combined with GPRS and UMTS functions which simplifies the migration of the network standards.
The perspectives that are offered for end users are associated with the simplicity of the access to web-based data, and appropriate quality of the connection and data transmission. However, the cost per bit value is too high, while the service capabilities are extended and comfortable for using and serving.
Long Term Evolution
Evolved LTE/IEEE 802.16m (WiMAX Mobile) is regarded as the major technology that is intended to meet and overwhelm the IMT requirements. This is generally featured with the opportunity to use new terminals that will be able to provide all the necessary opportunities of this technology. As is emphasized by Berg (2009), IMT made a mandatory requirement for Handover to different technologies when needed. Therefore, it would be easier for a user to avail of the legacy network if needed.
3GPP has come out with their Evolved version of LTE. It is featured with the modification for the existing LTE standards. However, it is also considered that LTE is the copying of WiMAX technology for mobile networks. However, both technologies are yet to fully deploy as LTE has just begun its journey but WiMAX 802.16 reached it’s halfway, while few providers in the USA have managed to install a fully functional but WiMAX 802.16 standard.
Video Encoder
Video data transmission that will be required for the 4G should be encoded by scalable MPEG-4 video encoding standards. This standard is featured with low power consumption, as well as properly adjusted architecture, which makes it suitable for network transmissions. Holma (2000, p. 210) outlines the following technical parameters that should be paid attention to:
Encoding architecture is featured with two key elements. One is a MPEG-4 video codec LSI, which performs a MPEG-4 video encoding and decoding at 15 frames per second with quarter common intermediate format. The other is a MPEG-4 audiovisual LSI, containing three 16-bit RISC processors and a 16-Mbit embedded DRAM, which executes the major functions of 3GPP 3G-324M video telephony for IMT-2000 applications.
This involves a 16-bit multimedia processor, and the offered DRAM configuration, as well as clock gating principles, make it the most suitable for the proper encoding, packing, and transmission.
As for the opportunities of HD video transmission, 4G terminals use MPEG-4 based codecs with AES encryption standards. Therefore, Streambox Hybrid HD/SD encoder is regarded as one of the most progressive and potential encoders for mobile devices, and it allows for arranging an HD translation of video material from any remote location. Technical parameters of the transmission involve SD video with 1.5 to 2 Mb/s and HD video with 2 to 5 Mb/s.
Content Delivery Network
CDN for 4G networks is expected to increase the speed of the connections and download up to 6 Mbps. The changes that were made for the telecommunication industry by implementing the CDN principle have stimulated the further development of the IMT advanced criteria. (Reynolds, 2007) The service itself is similar to Wi-Fi connections, however, the short-range limitations are not actual for this standard.
The standards that are implemented are not available for a wide range of users, nevertheless, the technical parameters and capacities of the technology have already stimulated the price decrease for 4G terminals and broadcast services. Therefore, the launched services are expected to improve the entire quality of the internet connection, as well as guarantee the stated connection speed, while currently, it does not exceed 3Mbps.
Conclusion
IEEE 802.16m standards, as well as 4G networks, are regarded as another step to the future of telecommunications. IMT advances requirements, as well as LTE standards, offer the most suitable protocols and technical environment for implementing the 4G networks, and migrating from wired, and 2G/3G networks for 4G of the IEEE 802.16m standard. As for the other wireless communication standards and protocols such as CDMA2000, HSDPA, EGPRS, and others, it should be stated that these do not offer the required parameters, and are not intended for a proper extension.
Reference List
Anand L. S. (2010). The Sprint HTC EVO 4G Review. AnandTech Publishing.
Berg, Andrew (2009). Verizon Completes LTE Data Calls. Advantage Business Media.
Dahlman, E. Parkvall, S. (2008) 3G Evolution, Second Edition: HSPA and LTE for Mobile Broadband. Academic Press.
Holma, H. (2000) WCDMA for UMTS: Radio Access for Third Generation Mobile Communications. John Wiley & Sons.
Mishra, A. R. (2007). In Advanced Cellular Network Planning and Optimisation: 2G/2.5G/3G…Evolution to 4G. The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Reynolds, Melanie (2007). “NTT DoCoMo develops low power chip for 3G LTE handsets”. Electronics Weekly. Web.