Functionality and Collaboration Mechanisms for Cognitive Wireless Networks and Systems

Abstract

The unparalleled evolution of wireless communications is reflected in the tremendous investments on research and development, targeted at the continuous introduction of innovations that could serve the information society. This has led to the coexistence and complementary exploitation of versatile, legacy and also emerging radio access technologies (RATs), such as: wireless wide area networks (such as 2G/2.5G/3G/3G? mobile communications, the IEEE 802.16 suite and WiMAX), broadcasting technologies, wireless short range networks (such as WLANs/WPANs and wireless sensor networks). Moreover, the wireless world is currently migrating towards the B3G (Beyond the 3rd Generation) era. In the B3G era, network operators (NOs) will have to address increased complexity due to the heterogeneity of the network and terminal infrastructure, the ever-increasing user requirements, the co-existence and need for complementary exploitation of various RATs. A NO should rely on different RATs for raising the customer satisfaction, and achieving the required quality of service (QoS) levels, cost-effectively. We received numerous high quality contributions in this field. After impartial review, we accepted five papers. The papers selected for this special issue address research problems from terminals to networks and from Spectrum and Radio Resource Management to applications.