Multi Agent System for Establishing ‘Virtual Home Environments’ in the Convergence on Fixed and Mobile Telecommunications Networks

Contents

This paper proposes a multi agent system using an Intelligent Network trigger for implementing a Virtual Home Environment (VHE). VHE is the ability to roam between telecommunication networks and still experience a consistent set of services, thus feeling on a familiar home network. Network operators are increasingly supplying value-added services and this trend is likely to accelerate rapidly in the mobile domain when third generation mobile, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) becomes available. UMTS aims to build on and extend the capability of today’s mobile technologies by providing a far greater range of services over fixed and mobile networks. Services are likely to include high speed Internet access, electronic mail, interactive education, home shopping and on-line banking. The research described in this paper is concerned with the preliminary analysis and design of an agent approach to the provision of the VHE. The agents in the system will focus, in particular, on negotiating service functionality and optimising effective routing paths.