Ambient networks: An architecture for communication networks beyond 3G

I In this article we present a new networking concept referred to as ambient networks, which aims to enable,the cooperation of heterogeneous networks belonging to different operator or technology domains. We aim to provide a domain-structured edge-to-edge view for the network control to embrace the heterogeneity arising from the different network control technologies. In this way, it appears as homogeneous to the users of the network services. We aim for an instant network composition to allow rapid adaptation of the network domain topology as required for moving networks. This new view of network composition allows us to treat the communication endpoints as a special case of network domains as well. We introduce the ambient control space, which enables the ambient networks I concept and introduce its main features. Two ambient control space functions, media delivery and generic link layer, are presented in more detail.