| The impressive evolution of mobile networks and the potential of wireless multimedia
communications pose many questions to operators, manufacturers, and
scientists working in the field. The future scenario is open to several alternatives:
thoughts, proposals, and activities of the near future could provide the answer to
the open points and dictate the future trends of the wireless world.
This book has been conceived as a tool—through its technical multilayer
content and the vision elements—for those who may either wish to contribute
to the definition and the development of the future scenario or just to be aware
of it.
The focus of this book is on the future wireless multimedia communications,
supporting all multimedia services, such as data, graphics, audio,
images, and video, for different types of users: (1) users not physically wired to
the network; (2) users able to access the network from many locations (i.e.,
nomadic users); and (3) users able to access the network while moving (i.e.,
mobile users).
In 2003–2005 the market of mobile multimedia services will experience
a large increase, mainly driven by Internet-based data services [1–3]. The
perspective of today’s information society calls for a multiplicity of devices,
including Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled home appliances, vehicles, personal
computers, sensors, actuators, all of which are to be globally connected. Current
mobile and wireless systems and architectural concepts must evolve in
order to cope with these complex connectivity requirements. Scientific research
in this truly multidisciplinary field is growing fast. New technologies, new architectural
concepts, and new challenges are emerging [4–8]. A broader band
knowledge, ranging over different layers of the protocol stack, is required by
experts involved in research, design, and development aspects of future wireless
networks. |
