Dynamic Resource Configurations for the Convergence of Optical and Wireless Networks

In the current landscape of Mobile Communication Networks, evolved radio access technologies, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), offer higher bitrates to mobile end users, providing support for a range of resource-demanding applications. In this context, one can imagine that the full potential of the communication infrastructures can be unleashed, in a cost-effective way, by enabling a smart convergence between the evolved access of the mobile world and the Passive Optical Networks (PONs) of the fixed world. In this context, this chapter introduces a novel management system called CONFES, Converged Network Infrastructure Enabling Resource Optimization and Flexible Service Provisioning, aiming at the proactive determination of PON clients' needs in bandwidth resources, and the efficient and reasonable allocation of resources to multiple clients according to such needs and the corresponding Service Level Agreements. Furthermore, the present chapter proposes, studies, and compares physical architecture solutions (both centralized and distributed) that can realize such advanced management systems.