Equipment Management Strategies in Reconfigurable Networks

The evolution of wireless communications over the last years has resulted in a clear trend towards Beyond Third Generation (B3G) systems, which support the co-existence and co-operation of multiple, diverse Radio Access Technologies (RATs) in a common composite radio environment. The Reconfigurability concept has been developed for facilitating B3G Systems and enabling the seamless experience. Reconfigurability supports the B3G concept by providing equipment (terminals and network elements) with capabilities to dynamically select and adapt to the most appropriate RAT. Reconfigurability calls for enhanced equipment management and control functionality. The aim of this paper is to present a Management and Control System for Reconfigurable Equipment (MCS-RE) for enabling the realization of the seamless experience in a B3G context.