Handling end-to-end QoS in mobile heterogeneous networking environments

The BRAIN (broadband radio access for IP based networks) project has been proposed to study a system that combines different wireless access network technologies. We present mechanisms to manage end-to-end QoS, including mobile end-systems and IP based wireless access networks (i.e. the BRAIN access network, BAN) in the transmission path. This includes the possible impact of mobility on QoS issues. Supporting QoS in mobile environments is hard to achieve because of potential handovers (horizontal and vertical) and error rate patterns of wireless links in contrast to fixed networks. To solve this issue, QoS signalling and adaptation mechanisms are required. We propose to build upon the BRAIN QoS framework and the BRain ENd Terminal Architecture (BRENTA), which provides the end-system functionality to manage QoS end-to-end from the users and applications point of view. We also show how admission control is embedded in the overall scenario and draft several protocol variants for an end-to-end negotiation of QoS that integrates local resource management and adaptation path strategies derived from users' QoS requirements.