Publications 2010

Projects of the Future Internet Research & Experimentation (FIRE)initiative are building an experimental facility that shall serve the needs of Future Internet research and development. The main design principles are virtualization of resources and federation. Federation is a means to meet requirements from Future Internet research that cannot be met by individual testbeds. In particular, to support large scale experiments utilizing heterogeneous resources, a federation of experimental facilities is needed. While several initiatives are currently establishing large scale testbeds, the mechanisms for federating such environments across the boundaries of administrative domains are unclear. This is due to the lack of established and agreed federation models, methods, and operational procedures. In this article we propose a federation model that defines high level conceptual entities for federating resources across administrative domains. A first prototype implementation of the functional components derived from the model has been realized and evaluated. This is demonstrated by the discussion of use cases that depict the flexibility of the proposed approach. The model can guide future testbed developments and harmonize the currently scattered efforts across several FIRE projects in order to establish an agreed resource federation framework. This framework shall be the basis for Future Internet research and experimentation in Europe and provide experimental facility services to academia and industry.

Large future internet research programs such as GENI, FIND, and FIRE are under way that will have a global impact on the current and future internet. Experimental facilities and testbeds are needed to support both revolutionary and evolutionary approaches for re-thinking and improving the internet architecture. The resource federation framework proposed by the authors makes available multi-domain testbeds providing heterogeneous crosslayer infrastructures for broad testing and experimentation purposes. Currently, it is unclear how new concepts and ideas developed by the future internet research community can be integrated into production systems while preserving infrastructure operator investments. Service oriented experimental facilities are required that integrate technologies and concep ts across various domains and layers and actively incorporate different market players. In this article, we briefly introduce the network domain federation model as the basis and architectural mindset for the Pan-European Laboratory (Panlab) concept, introduce technical architecture refinements, and outline first implementation results.

With the emergence of smart home environments, services are constantly subject to changes, seeking the customer's full satisfaction. Enriching these services with innovative approaches such as context-aware, mobile, adaptable and interactive mechanisms, enables users to experience a variety of personalised services seamlessly across different platforms and technologies. Moreover, considering advertising as the enabler for next generation services, it is important to explore its integration into new domains. This paper, therefore presents a framework approach to address advertising solutions focusing on smart home environments, enriching the overall user quality of experience. In addition, by over viewing the current smart homes market scenario, it provides the vision to overcome the established advertising paradigms focusing on key points like user privacy protection, online social networks and reality mining technologies.

This thesis presents a research project on multi-channel messaging for Next Generation Networks (NGNs), covering miscellaneous aspects of convergence. It describes an architecture on top of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for implementing an Instant Messaging (IM) service based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) that allows an easy and straightforward integration of various heterogeneous messaging protocols to deliver continuity of service with legacy networks. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) introduced "SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions" (SIMPLE) as a protocol suite that constitutes an open and interoperable standard for instant messaging and presence. Relying on this set of specifications, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) has developed an ap plication enabler (SIMPLE IM) that defines a complete architecture and framework in order to enable interactive communication capabilities over an IP-based infrastructure. OMA Converged IP Messaging (CPM) specifies the successor enabler which provides a transparent and seamless approach of interworking between disparate messaging services in the Telecommunications and Internet domain while leveraging standardized functionalities from existing enablers. The drafted framework of CPM has been the fundamental design pattern for the system layout realized within this work. For this thesis developed, the converged messaging architecture extends the previous mentioned SIMPLE IM enabler with several components. Interworking Functions (IWFs) represent the protocol adaption logic between SIP and the specific messaging protocol whereas an Interworking Selection Function (ISF) is responsible for delivering the messages towards the appropriate IWF. In addition, an Application Control Function (ACF) will be introduced which exposes the messaging features to external functional components like Value-Added Service (VAS) applications. Furthermore, this thesis outlines the integration into a NGN infrastructure and the benefits and open issues arising from this concept. A broad overview of the specification and standardization landscape is given as well as the interconnection between existing and ongoing standards that are relevant for this research topic. In addition to basic considerations it is intended to also deal with the practical prerequisites which inform the system design. As a p roof-of-concept, the Converged Open Messaging Server (COMS) has been developed, implementing the designed architecture. COMS is integrated and validated on the Open SOA Telco playground provided by Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS. The paradigm demonstrates the feasibilities in multiple use case scenarios including messaging convergence and the interaction with other telecommunications enablers and messaging protocols, just as innovative context-aware approaches which enable the users to experience a variety of personalized services seamlessly across different platforms and technologies.

Das programmierbare Netz, das Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts in der Standardisierung und Forschung für das Intelligente Netz entworfen wurde, wird nun Realität in einem auf das Internet Protokoll basierendem Netz der nächsten Generation (Next Generation Network). Hierfür kommen Prinzipien aus der Informationstechnologie, insbesondere aus dem Bereich dienstorientierte Architekturen (Service -Oriented Architecture / SOA) für die Diensterstellung, -ausführung und -betrieb zum Tragen. SOA bietet hierbei die theoretische Grundlage für Telekommunikationsnetze, vor allem jedoch für die dazugehörigen Dienstplattformen. Diese erlauben dem Telekommunikationsbetreiber seine Position in einem offenen Marktplatz der Dienste auszubauen. Dazu bedarf es allerdings möglichst flexibler Dienstumgebungen, die die Kooperation zwischen Dienstanbietern und Nutzern aus unterschiedlichsten Domänen durch Unterstützung geeigneter Werkzeuge und Mechanismen fördert. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation definieren wir aufbauend auf Forschungsergebnisse im Bereich Overlay-Netze, Netzabstraktionen und Zugriff auf exponierte Dienste eine <i>Service Broker </i>genannte Dienstumgebung für konvergente Internet- und Telekommunikationsdienste. Dieser Service Broker stellt Mechanismen für die Komposition von Diensten und Mediation zwischen unterschiedlichen Dienstparadigmen und Domänenspezifika beim Dienstaufruf zur Verfügung. Der Forschungsbeitrag dieser Arbeit findet auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen statt: Aufbauend auf einer Analyse und Klassifikation von Technologien und Paradigmen aus den Bereichen Informationstechnology (IT) und Telekommunikation diskutieren wir die Problemstellung der Kooperation von Diensten und deren Komposition über Domänengrenzen hinweg. In einem zweiten Schritt diskutieren wir Methoden der Dienstkomposion und präsentieren eine formalisierte Methode der modellbasierten Diensterstellung. Der Schwerpunkt der Arbeit liegt auf der Spezifikation der Service Broker Dienstumgebung und einem zugrundeliegenden Informations- und Datenmodell. Diese Architektur erlaubt die Komposition und Kooperation von Diensten über Domänengrenzen hinweg, um konvergente Internet- und Telekommunikationsdienste zu realisieren. Hierfür wird ein auf Obligationspolitiken basierendes Regelsystem formalisiert, das Interaktionen zwischen Dienstmerkmalen während der Diensterstellung und -ausführung definiert.

Driven by the roll-out of new wireless access technologies providing only packet transport capabilities like the 3GPP Long Term Evolution, the Next Generation Mobile Broadband Networks are bound to support wireless broadband com-munication in a data dominant environment. In order to respond to the requirements of the new environment, 3rd Generation Partnership Project defined the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) as a new IP connectivity control platform enabling wireless access network diversity (including LTE, UMTS, WiMAX, WiFi etc.) and offering seamless connectivity for the various service platforms. It maintains the same central concepts as previous 3GPP architectures, like IMS: policy based QoS and charging, subscription based access control, handover support and security, limiting its goa ls to offering the connectivity without direct binding to the services themselves. This paper presents the main concepts driving the evolution of the mass wireless broadband networks concentrating on the 3GPP EPC architecture with its key components, capabilities and interactions revealing the opportunities and challenges brought for the applications in the new environment.

The Future Broadband Wireless environment is characterized by the co-existence of a multitude of wireless networks e.g. LTE, UMTS, WiMAX, WiFi etc. In order to be able to offer the best connectivity, according to the requirements of the user and to the preferences of the operator, a novel functionality was introduced in the network and in the mobile devices for access network discovery and selection. This paper introduces this functionality as standardized in the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC), highlighting its main concepts and technical scenarios. Further a set of novel optimizations are evaluated, followed by the description of the Fraunhofer FOKUS OpenEPC implementation.

The programmable network envisioned in the late 1990s within standardization and research for the Intelligent Network is taking another attempt to come into reality using IP- based Next Generation Networks (NGN) and Application Programming Interfaces (API) for open developer access. Adopting technical concepts of providing high-level APIs for open service access from the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW), some major telecommunications operators have started developer portals to allow 3rd party developer access to internal service enablers and network functionality. Composition of services by using these exposed APIs may be realized on multiple layers. We address in this report the composition of services based on orchestration languages and assess those in the context of the execution of real-time communication services. We propose a two-folded composition model for component and workflow driven compositions.

Digital Identity has grown separately in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and the Internet in general. On the one hand secure but walled garden services are offered on the other hand the focus is on openness and third party integration. However, future Telco-business needs an inter-working of IMS and Internet. This paper discusses use cases, economical benefits and technical solutions for bridging these two worlds based on the findings presented also in an upcoming whitepaper from the Telecommunication Identity work group of the Kantara Initiative.

Due to a rapidly shifting technology and competitive market environment, Telecommunication and Internet Services are constantly subject to changes, creating new challenges and needs for the industry to keep generating revenues. A high level of customization is therefore identified as a key enabler for achieving customer satisfaction and improving their quality of experience. Enriching services with innovative approaches such as context-aware, adaptable and interactive mechanisms enable the vendors to deliver tailored and personalized experiences to its customers. This article presents a concept to integrate policy-based decision mechanisms into the architecture of a Next Generation Network (NGN)-based converged messaging enabler for supporting adaptive personalization and context-aware service delivery across heterogeneous networks and messaging technologies. The system reacts to context changes and makes real-time decisions about handling incoming messages according to the users' preferences. A prototype has been implemented as part of the Open SOA Telco Playground testbed at Fraunhofer FOKUS.

This position paper shall contribute to the discussion around heterogeneous resource federation models, strategies, and implementation scenarios. From the authors point of view, overcoming heterogeneity is the most challenging issue where not only the resources but also the federation mechanisms and implementations themselves are heterogeneous when federating across the boundaries of federations. Federation might take place on several abstraction layers where in the end different federations might agree to federate on yet another overarching level. This will ultimately lead towards a massive federated resource pool where users can assemble desired functionality across layers and administrative boundaries upon demand in a seamless manner. This vision is driving our work.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the Third International Conference on MOBILE Wireless MiddleWARE, Mobilware 2010, held in Chicago, USA, in June/July 2010. The 23 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 35 contributions. The papers are organized in topical sections on location and tracking supports and services, human-computer interface for mobile devices, mobility management and handoff management, novel applications and communication protocols for wireless networks, and mobile intelligent middleware.

Nowadays technologies, frameworks and architectures are forced to be service driven, platform independent, reliable and scalable. Application markets, Service Oriented Architectures and Cloud Computing are currently in focus of the new upcoming business models. Based on an analysis of service life cycle management and composition standards the following article illustrates an architecture for a service platform. This component provides both the export of internal software components as services (inside-out approach) as well as a flexible service life cycle management by considering the needs of Platform as a Service (Paas )and Software as a Service (SaaS). Furthermore, the platform is able to import external services in order to enlarge the service portfolio (ouside-in approach) or even to compose the services to create new mash-up services. This leads to collaboration and resource federation between service providers whereas the service access is organized and protected by a policy-based service management function.

In today's competitive business environment, operators seek to simplify their network topology in order to cut costs and create a convergent network infrastructure that is secure, easy to manage, always available, and capable of providing bandwidth to new multimedia service traffic loads and changing business needs. This paper gives an overview of broadband networks and how to provision services such as voice, which remains the main revenue generator for operators, on such networks.

With the evolution towards mass wireless broadband communication, a novel set of applications tailored for this environment will be developed that are able to communicate their requirements towards core networks and foremost to adopt to a change in access network conditions of users. This paper will present their characteristics and how they can be developed and tested with the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core. Furthermore, the paper will outline the developed demonstrations with the help of Fraunhofer FOKUS new OpenEPC toolkit.

Teagle is the central coordination and testbed deployment engine used for Panlab, a large scale federated experimental facility. Teagle allows the setup of distributed testbeds using ICT resources provided by Panlab. Such resources include general purpose machines, dedicated devices or complex software systems such as Next Generation Network (NGN) enablers and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) for mobile and fixed NGN related testbeds. The resources can be booked and configured upon demand serving specific testing or experimentation needs. Users of this facility and its underlying infrastructure usually are research and development teams or individuals from industry and academia. In this half day tutorial participants will learn: * About the FIRE initiative as the driver for experimentally driven Future Internet research in Europe * About the Teale architecture and its core components * About the Panlab framework and its operational procedures * How to use the creation environment provided by Teagle to design custom testbed setups * How to make use of such a testbed for distributed or local experiments * How to join the federation, commit own resources and use resources provided by other partners

Teagle is the central coordination and testbed deployment engine used for Panlab, a large scale federated experimental facility. Teagle allows the setup of distributed testbeds using ICT resources provided by Panlab. Such resources include general purpose machines, dedicated hardware or complex software systems such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core system for NGN related testbeds, and/or an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) for Mobile and Fixed NGN related testbeds, and/or various generic application enablers. The resources can be booked and configured upon demand serving specific testing or experimentation needs. Users of this facility and its underlying infrastructure usually are research and development teams or individuals from industry and academia. In this half day tutorial you will learn: * About the Teagle architecture and its core components such as a registry and creation environment * About the Panlab framework and its operational procedures * How to use the creation environment provided by Teagle to design custom testbed setups * How to make use of such a testbed for distributed or local experiments * How to join the federation, commit own resources and use resources provided by other partners