Abstract
Telecommunication technologies and networks are constantly changing; with the introduction of the GSM system the shift from wired to wireless telephony experienced a unique boom. Since then, behaviour and communication needs of users (i.e. subscribers) have undergone rapid changes from initially the need for pure wireless voice transmission to now data and multimedia content traffic. Introduction of the 3rd Generation (UMTS/IMT 2000) promised the delivery of these services and the integration with the Internet. However, legacy technologies and networks are not likely to be replaced soon, the different wireless and wired communication and information infrastructures will co-exist and will have to work, seemingly seamless, together. The here documented research work delivers basic mechanisms supporting this integration, therefore a variety of technologies from different areas, ranging from Software Radio technology to Object-Oriented computing, have been brought together to introduce reconfigurability to mobile communication networks. Distributed object computing technologies are evaluated and their application as signalling and support platforms for reconfigureable systems is shown in different examples. Other novelties are the introduction of a protocol for download of reconfiguration software, from various software sources, these sources include Smart Cards, wired outlets and Over-The-Air. Furthermore, an object-oriented framework for flexible, 'on-the-fly' protocol exchange has been developed; the mechanisms and architecture of this framework are described within this thesis. Combining protocol reconfiguration, software download and distributed platforms and focusing on control and management of reconfiguration have led to the design and definition of a reconfiguration management architecture. Functionality and structure of this architecture are documented, and its single modules are described. Providing means and mechanisms enabling management and control of reconfiguration within reconfigureable mobile communication networks is the purpose of this thesis. KM, Guildford, July 2001 Key words: reconfiguration, reconfiguration management. Software Radio, object-orientation, middleware, CORBA, Universal Control CHannel.