Network Layer Technology Research Articles

AI-Enabled Intelligent Visible Light Communications: Challenges, Progress, and Future

Visible light communication (VLC) is a highly promising complement to conventional wireless communication for local-area networking in future 6G. However, the extra electro-optical and photoelectric conversions in VLC systems usually introduce exceeding complexity to communication channels, in particular severe nonlinearities. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are investigated to overcome the unique challenges in VLC, whereas considerable obstacles are found in practical VLC systems applied with intelligent learning approaches. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of the intelligent physical and network layer technologies for AI-empowered intelligent VLC (IVLC). We first depict a full model of the visible light channel and discuss its main challenges. The advantages and disadvantages of machine learning in VLC are discussed and analyzed by simulation. We then present a detailed overview of advances in intelligent physical layers, including optimal coding, channel emulator, MIMO, channel equalization, and optimal decision. Finally, we envision the prospects of IVLC in both the intelligent physical and network layers. This article lays out a roadmap for developing machine learning-based intelligent visible light communication in 6G.

Supporting vertical handover between universal mobile telecommunications system and wireless LAN for real-time services

The provisioning of the seamless handovers for real-time services in-between UMTS/ WLAN loose-interworking by the network-layer technologies has been studied. Issues are how to execute such a vertical handover in a fast and efficient manner as well as how to achieve it in a viable way. To resolve such issues, a novel scheme called 'designated crossover point' (DCP) within the existing IP end-to-end quality of service (QoS) architecture has been proposed. The DCP is an agent at the edge router in the customer's premise to join the old RSVP signalling path and new RSVP signalling path. With the DCP in place, the vertical handover can be greatly accelerated. Besides, by enabling the DCP to handover to the edge router in the customer's network currently visited by the mobile, lower charging cost can be achieved. Finally, there is no modification required for the devices in the provider's network and thus the viability is much improved. It is then end up with a topology for resource management in IP backbone for UMTS/WLAN loose-interworking to support the idea of DCP. To determine when to perform the rerouting to remove the possible derouting caused by DCPs, use of an adaptive rule has been suggested. Simulation results show in general that the adaptive rule is effective.