Basic access network - the signaling-only network for power-efficient mobile multiservice terminals in MIRAI architecture

In MIRAI (Multimedia Integrated network by Radio Access Innovation) architecture, proposed by Wu, Havinga and Mizuno (see IEEE Commun. Mag., p.126-134, Feb. 2002), a dedicated network takes care of the mobility functionalities of the participant wireless access networks in an integrated wireless networks environment. This paper presents the dedicated network, called basic access network (BAN), which is primarily used for paging whenever a call arrives for the mobile user for any of the wireless interfaces of the user's multiservice terminal, and for wireless system discovery when the user wants to initiate a call/session. The resultant improvement in network signaling and terminal power usage efficiency is discussed. The paper also outlines the implementation issues of the air interface of this unique network, with specific focus on the system capacity, coverage and power usage.