Title: 4G Mobile Wireless Systems Abstract This report documents the work carried out by the author on systems beyond third generation mobilewireless networks. This is why it has been suitably titled as 4G (fourth generation) mobile wirelessnetworks. The aim of this research line is to develop a system for robust coding of video content for 4Gapplications. An investigation, comparison, and evaluation of methods how to send short video messages(video postcards) using a 3G and 4G systems, using a mobile terminal such as a cell phone will be carriedout. The selection of image and video standards, error concealment, displays and batteries have also beenpursued. Research has also been carried out in markets and applications, network evolution and radioaccess for 4G. Other topics that are relevant to 4G such as java based I-mode programs and FOMAtechnology have also been included. Initiatives have also been identified that will have an impact on the development of 4G and how it willdiverge along with its concerns. The selection of multiple access techniques suitable for 4G and 3Gstandards that will integrate with 4G have also been addressed. Many enabling techniques includingsoftware radio, smart antennas and digital signal processing aspects are improving the spectral efficiencyof 3G systems and have been marked as suitable technologies for 4G. Introduction The two most important trends in today’s telecommunications industry are the significantdevelopments of cellular networks and the rapid rise of the use of the Internet. The rise of mobility anddata-oriented applications are fundamentally changing the environment of the telecommunicationsnetwork. These new developments present important challenges for the industry and its presentinfrastructure equipment providers. Voice will maintain to be an important application, but its leadingposition will be weakened in future networks. These future networks will be optimised for data as well asimproving the quality of voice on mobile terminals. Future telecommunications infrastructures will beheavily based on the Internet Protocol and would be packet switched. New services such as videosteaming and other multimedia services in the future telecommunications networks will be addedtechnologies. An explosive growth is expected in mobile communications over the next decade with higher speeds andlarger capacities than provided by third-generation communications mobile systems, which must be madepossible in order to meet the requirements for faster speeds and more diverse usage formats. Accordingly,studies are now being carried out to develop the fourth generation of mobile systems. Fourth generationmobile communications involves a blend of concepts and technologies in the making. Some can berecognised as being derived from 3G, while others involve new approaches to wireless mobile networks.[21] Fourth generation networks are expected to deliver more advanced versions of the same improvementscarry out by third generation networks. These improvementsinclude enhanced multimedia, smooth streaming video, universal access, and portability across all typesof devices. 4G enhancements are expected to include worldwide roaming capability. An important featureincludes the function of being able to send and receive video data. Both 3G and 4G networks are able totransmit video data but with different levels of QoS. Conclusion The MPEG-4 codec is the most likely to become the prevailing format, as it facilitates compatibilityamong products from different vendors and has been optimised for wireless communications. However,

licensing and patent fees issues may become a potential impediment to the success of MPEG-4, sinceseveral companies have patents that apply to different aspects of MPEG-4. Combining these patents intoone single license fee will be quite challenging. Hardware-based codec’s will be preferred in mobile phones as they consume a smaller amount of powerand are faster than software routines. Some hardware codec’s are currently available in the market, butcurrent products need to evolve in order to reduce cost and power requirements. However, significantincrease in computational capacity is needed for software-based encoders. Therefore, they will mostlikely be used to record and play video (and audio) on PCs, using the computer’s CPU for processing. One of the key issues for the operator consists of the definition of an “ideal” service roadmap. The mobileoperator must take advantage of the opening offered by mobile video services as a means to produceincreasing airtime traffic, revenue, and customer loyalty. It should be known that services with videocontent will initially be low volume compared to other text and voice based services. The mobile operatormust then define a service roadmap including realistic video applications but prioritising those servicesthat are expected to generate more revenues in the short term. The operator should also take into accountthat mobile subscribers need to be knowledgeable and become familiar with these new services. Findingviable pricing models for mobile video services is yet another key challenge, as high charges mighthamper the general usage of mobile video applications. Current market drivers such as future-proof equipment, seamless integration of new services, multi-modeequipment and over-the-air feature insertion in commercial wireless networking industry have resulted inwidespread interest in SDR technology. The technology can be used to implement wireless networkinfrastructure equipment such as wireless handsets, PDA’s, wireless modems and other end-user devices.However, factors like higher power consumption, increased complexity of software and possibly higherinitial cost of equipment should be taken into account before considering using SDR technology to build aradio system. It is also important to recognise what device types, mobile subscribers are using today, and which mobiledevices they are likely to use in the next few years. Many users would ideally want to have video andother features integrated into one single mobile device. The addition of a camera to mobile terminals willhave a considerably bigger impact than adding WAP, GPRS, Mobile Java, FOMA etc. This difference isevident simply because when looking at a mobile phone with an integrated camera lens, mobile users willunderstand that, somehow, they should be able to take and even send pictures or videos to other people. Ipersonally believe it will have a phenomenal impact with users in years to come. The Internet’s emerging capabilities for real-time traffic, multipoint communications, andbroadcast-based information distribution make it a compelling technology to use for the next generationof multimedia systems.