Heterogeneous Signaling Framework for End-to-End QoS Support in Next Generation Networks

Next generation wireless communication systems aim to handle diverse types of services across different types of access technologies in a seamless way. This paper proposes a next generation network architecture and evaluates possible associated signaling strategies, focusing in network-level QoS support aspects. The scenarios handled cover terminal-initiated signaling, network controlled signaling, and application-provider controlled signaling. Possible message sequence charts associated with these scenarios are presented and discussed. The paper compares the relative merits of each approach and concludes that the optimum QoS signaling solution depends on the QoS models that will be used, which are directly related to the business models chosen by the operators.