Hierarchical Management Architecture for Multi-Access Networks

Future Internet will be highly heterogeneous supporting a multitude of access technologies with overlapping coverages. The automation and optimization of network operations like resource, mobility or QoS management in such a multi-access and multi-operator environment becomes a very challenging but vital task in order to ensure smooth network operation and user satisfaction. Cognitive network management is seen as the solution for this. However, any self mechanism designed for small-scale networks and requiring an accurate view of the whole network status for decision-making will not be able to meet the future needs. In this paper, the authors propose a novel multi-access network management architecture targeted for large heterogeneous multi-access and multi-operator networks.