Different wireless communication networks could soon start speaking a common language, say US researchers.
A new software architecture will allow mobile phones, wireless laptops and the next generation of smart internet phones to roam outside their own network鈥檚 coverage area and work seamlessly on foreign networks, provided their hardware is compatible, says Tom LaPorta, director of mobile network research at Bell Labs鈥� Networking Research Laboratory, New Jersey.
The system, called Common Operations (COPS), translates protocols used to log users on to one network into a form that will be understood by a foreign network. This means users would not have to manually log themselves on to every new network they encounter.
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Bell Labs has yet to demonstrate that the technology works smoothly 鈥� but some experts say it could be an important step towards increased compatibility.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting idea,鈥� says Martin Brown of AT&T鈥檚 research facility in Cambridge, UK. 鈥淚t would be good if we could simplify things.鈥�
Translation protocol
There are currently a handful of incompatible mobile phone networks and broadband wireless computer networks in the world. The next generation of phone networks will introduce further access systems.
Bell Labs鈥� interpreting software establishes a way for previously incompatible networks to share user information, such as identification details 鈥� allowing users to be quickly recognised and logged on. It should also allow users to access services usually restricted to their native network, such as phone voicemail and messenging.
Current devices will still need special hardware to connect and communicate with a new network, such as a different card for a laptop. But assuming this is in place, the new software means they would not even notice the transition to a new network, says LaPorta.
Same services
鈥淔rom a users perspective, irrespective of the network deployed, they should be able to have the same services,鈥� LaPorta says. 鈥淭he second part of the puzzle is making all devices compatible with different networks.鈥�
COPS will increase cooperation between new broadband mobile networks such as UMTS and CDMA and other wireless systems such as 802.11, says Krishan Sabnani, vice president of Bell Labs鈥� Networking Research Laboratory.
鈥淐arriers will be able to more easily migrate from one network protocol to another,鈥� says Sabnani. 鈥淎dditionally, callers will be able to use their phones the same way on a guest network.鈥�
