Integrated resource management framework in hybrid optical wireless networks

The interworking between optical networks and wireless networks is a promising evolution approach for fixed mobile convergence networks, which can exploit and combine their complementary characteristics. Efficient utilisation of available bandwidth over hybrid optical wireless networks is a critical issue, especially for multimedia applications with high data rates and stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements. The authors present a resource management framework in a hybrid Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) and worldwide interoperability for microwave access network. First, the authors formulate and study the problem of sharing resource allocation information between optical and wireless domains. The existing signalling protocol in EPON is modified and enhanced. Secondly, a novel integrated admission control scheme is proposed. Simulations conducted using the optimised network evaluation tool modeller show that the proposed system achieves significant improvements in terms of user QoS guarantee and network resource utilisation.