The E3 architecture for future cognitive mobile networks

Next generation mobile and wireless systems will enhance the operators' network management capabilities and will considerably improve the users' experience. However, these systems form a complex heterogeneous environment that calls for new management techniques targeting efficiency, robustness and adaptability. Cognition techniques as well as the ability for network components to act autonomously are considered as the main tools to achieve these goals. In this paper we present the functional architecture (FA) for the management and control of reconfigurable radio systems of the EU funded IP project called “E3 — End to End Efficiency” that has been designed to enhance existing procedures usually performed in traditional O&M systems (e.g., spectrum management, network planning, configuration actions etc). We present the rational of our design and provide specific examples to illustrate the role of the different functional entities and their interfaces. A considerable part of this architecture has been recently approved as a feasibility study by ETSI Reconfigurable Radio System (RRS).