MONAMI 2010 Best Paper Awards

Best Paper

Optimum selection of access networks within heterogeneous wireless environments based on linear programming techniques

by Johnny Choque, Ramón Agüero, Eva-Maria Hortiguela and Luis Muñoz
University of Cantabria, Spain

Abstract - In this work we analyze the possibilities which are brought about by the use of linear programming techniques in the framework of access selection procedures within heterogeneous wireless network environments. We present a tool which has been designed and implemented (based on the GLPK package) to tackle this problem. This tool, starting from a particular network model, can be used to retrieve the optimum assignment of access elements. To fulfil this goal, we introduce a flexible cost (utility) function, which allows modulating the relevance given to the different aspects which could be taken into consideration while deciding the access alternative to be used: connection with a preferred operator, minimizing the number of handovers, or link quality, amongst others. Afterwards, the tools is used to study a set of canonical access selection strategies, so as to establish the combination of parameters which might lead to better performances.

Best Student Paper

A Novel LTE Wireless Virtualization Framework

by Yasir Zaki, Liang Zhao, Carmelita Goerg
University of Bremen, Germany

and Andreas Timm-Giel
Hamburg University of Technology, Germany

Abstract - Network virtualization is one of the topics that recently have been receiving attention in the research community. It is becoming evidently clear that network virtualization will be a major player in the shaping of the Future Internet. Many research projects around the world are studying different aspects of network virtualization: some are focusing on resource virtualization like Node, Server and Router virtualization; while others are focusing on building a framework to setup virtual networks on the fly based on the different virtual resources. In spite of all that work, we still think that one very important piece of the puzzle is still missing that is "Wireless Virtualization". According to the best of our knowledge, the virtualization of the wireless medium has not yet received the appropriate attention it is entitled to, and there has been very small work done in that field. This is why this paper is proposing a framework for the virtualization of the wireless medium. This framework is proposed to virtualize mobile communication systems so that multiple operators can share the same physical resources. We mainly focus on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) but the framework can also be generalized to fit any other wireless system.