QoS-enabled Internet-on-train network architecture: inter-working by MMP-SCTP versus MIP Daan Pareit, Nele Gheysens, Tom Van Leeuwen, Ingrid Moerman
Walter Van Brussel, Ines Clenjans
Wim Torfs, Peter De Cleyn, Chris Blondia
— — — Siemens Networks IBCN Research group PATS research group Atealaan 34 Ghent University - IBBT University of Antwerp - IBBT B-2200 Herentals, Belgium Gaston Crommenlaan 8 Middelheimlaan 1 Email: walter.van
[email protected], B-9050 Ghent, Belgium B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium Email: {firstname.lastname}@intec.ugent.be Email: {firstname.lastname}@ua.ac.be
[email protected]
Abstract— Internet-on-the-train is a rising concept in the last few years. Several trials in different countries have proved the feasibility of offering Internet access to train commuters, but none of them combines broadband access, scalability, seamless handover and quality of service guarantees in one solution. In this paper, we propose a new architecture to satisfy these needs. Using real handover measurement data of several common broadband wireless technologies, we compare two possible inter-working mobility solutions: Mobile Multi-Path SCTP (MMP-SCTP) and Mobile IP (MIP).
I. I NTRODUCTION Several wireless technologies can be used for offering broadband Internet access on trains. If we look at GPRS (considered to be the first cellular mobile data service), lots of countries do not even have a full national coverage. When envisaging UMTS or WiMAX cells, they are currently only arising mainly in dense urban areas. Satellites on the other hand are at almost every geographic location available, because of their large footprints (large covered areas). However, they need line-of-sight conditions in order to maintain a broadband connection. This makes satellite connections in dense urban areas, tunnels, mountainous terrain. . . difficult or impossible. These findings substantiate the fact that the railway network of a train operating company is rarely fully covered by solely one (broadband) wireless backhaul technology. Hence, when envisaging an Internet connection on the train [1], one will need to combine different technologies. This involves switching from one technology to another when leaving the coverage area of the former. This is called inter-technology handover or “vertical handover”. Bundling several broadband wireless technologies into one data “pipe” should be done in a transparent way: passengers on the train should not be aware of the handovers and should enjoy an uninterrupted seamless multimedia network experience. The IP network architecture that we present in this paper, can use several wireless access technologies in order to provide such an uninterrupted Internet connectivity. On-board provisions for Quality of Service (QoS) enable the network to differentiate the data traffic: crew versus
passengers, delay critical versus high bandwidth applications and fast inter system handovers provide seamless business and infotainment Internet services to train passengers and crew with the necessary QoS. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. Section II presents throughput, delay and (vertical) handover measurements of some current wireless technologies. In Section III the architecture of the network is explained. A comparison between the two mobility solutions for our Internet-on-train network system is shown in Section IV. Finally, conclusions and future work are formulated in the last section Section V. II. DATA THROUGHPUT,
PACKET DELAY AND HANDOVER MEASUREMENTS
Using existing public mobile communication networks for backhauling seems to be at first sight an attractive alternative for providing a backhaul connection between the moving trains and the ground, however there are a number of drawbacks. • In most cases a nationwide coverage for broadband wireless access is not available, and will not be so in the next years to come, depending on the country. • The use of a public mobile data-communication network in international roaming conditions can raise the backhaul connectivity costs to an unacceptable level • The networks which have a good coverage (like GPRS or EDGE) have other disadvantages, which are shown in the test results below The performance of the already available technologies which provide a nation wide coverage, have been tested in Belgium during the month December in 2006. The tests were performed by using two different public mobile network operators. The tests were carried out in a car, equipped with test equipment, that went from Antwerp to Brussels at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. We opted performing these measurements by car instead of by train, as tests on a real train have some serious disadvantages. This is because the antennas has to be mounted outside the train and requires cooperation of a train operator. As the maximum allowed height of the antennas is often very limited,
TABLE I GSM GPRS UMTS
Multi-band antenna
GSM GPRS UMTS
C OMPARISON OF THE TEST RESULTS BETWEEN GPRS, EDGE, UMTS AND
Hybrid combiner
GPRS WLAN/GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA datacard on network 1
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA datacard on network 2
EDGE UMTS
Multilink router
Test PC 1
Fig. 1.
Eth switch
HSDPA
speed [km/h] 0 120 0 120 0 120 0 120
HSDPA
Throughput [kbit/s] 41,6 29,6 170 28 360 324 - 360 1000 peak 1000 peak
RTT [ms] Min - Avg. - Max 484 - 648 - 2337 484 - 648 - 2337 290 - 683 - 2993 290 - 683 - 2993 NA - 160 - NA NA - 160 - NA NA - 140 - NA NA - 140 - NA
handover delay [s] 5 - 10 5 - 10 5 - 10 5 - 10
