Flow-control for multi-access systems

Future wireless communication systems will be characterised by an integration of different access technologies. Such systems will feature a user-friendly coordination of the complementary access technologies to access personalized services in a seamless manner via the currently most suitable access. Efficient resource management will provide cost effective bandwidth. These systems need a flow-control functionality to select always the best suitable access system for a certain traffic flow in different environments. This paper lists requirements and describes a flow control functionality that controls the forwarding of individual traffic flows over different access systems in a multi-access scenario. In addition, examples are presented and discussed as to how this advanced multimedia flow-control can be embedded both in a co-operative and in an integrated multi-access system architecture, providing thereby guidelines for standardization and future products.