Equipment management issues in B3G, end-to-end reconfigurable systems

The evolution of wireless communications in recent years has resulted in a clear trend toward Beyond Third Generation (B3G) systems, which support the integration and co-existence of multiple, diverse radio access technologies (RATs) in a common composite radio environment. The reconfigurability concept has been developed for the facilitation of B3G Systems. Reconfigurability supports the B3G concept by providing technologies that enable equipment (terminals and network elements) to dynamically select the most appropriate reconfiguration action. In this direction this article outlines some key issues for embedding reconfigurability functionality in equipment. A generic management system for reconfigurable equipment (MSRE) in B3G environments is presented and the functionality of its main components is described in detail.