Network based reconfiguration support services for software radio terminals

Reconfigurability covers all levels of a system, ranging from radio level up to the services; this flexibility requires, also, a shift of responsibility. The paper analyses the issue of network resident support services for reconfigurable systems; it delivers a description of the complementary mechanisms for the provision of reconfiguration support services. These mechanisms are embedded in the Mobile VCE (Virtual Centre of Excellence) reconfiguration management architecture (RMA) (see Moessner, K. et al., UK Patent Application No. 0028463.8, 2000) and form the RMAs network part that is represented in the functionality of the AcA (authentication/authorization, virtual configuration, accounting/billing) server. This server incorporates and implements all aforementioned network reconfiguration support services and its functions are described.