•  Enable a flexible management of the interference

An extremely dense radio environment is a strong limitation for a system based on selfish nodes interfering with each other. However, this is also a great opportunity towards ubiquitous user experience when advanced cooperation and reception schemes are enabled by an architecture allowing information and resource sharing between nodes.

• Enable a friendly coexistence of multi-layer and multi-RAT HetNets to smartly offload the burden on the macro network

The heterogeneity in SHARING is multi-dimensional, implying that in addition to multiple layers (macro, micro, pico, femto), the whole SHARING system supports the existence of other RATs such as Wi-Fi. A particular attention will be paid to a friendly coexistence between these multi-RATs in terms of cooperation, leading to cooperative radio resource management to achieve a smart offload of the macro network to small cells. Such offloading mechanisms will be designed to make the best use of the local radio environment (i.e. choosing the best access points with cooperative or joint resource allocation across the different network layers). In addition, driven by the multi-mode nature of small cell base stations, the essence of the investigation will be on integrating femto/Wi-Fi capabilities to tap into the benefits of both technologies and carrying out smart fine-grained offloading at both the radio and core network levels.

• Design and evaluate the performance of novel SON procedures and their impact on Next Generation (NG) HetNet architecture

SON concept has been studied for many years; however its true potential is far from being reached. Existing works and standardization activities mainly focus on SON mechanisms per RAT and per layer (macro/micro/pico/femto) and lack an integrated system perspective. SHARING focuses on integrated performance optimization of SON across multiple RATs and layers. We believe that only through such a holistic approach that SON can reap its potential benefits. Furthermore, SHARING will contribute to develop the next generation of HetNet SON architecture by taking into consideration the priorities and roadmaps of network operators. This will provide robust network operation, and will open opportunities for vendor-specific innovations on top of basic SON mechanisms.

•  Enable intelligent local processing

Context-aware radio nodes, local offload, local node capabilities (including processing), and local radio resource management are central to SHARING’s concerns. SHARING privileges local processing and decision making since, in the context of large scale small cell deployments, centralized processing will inevitably result in an excessive signalling exchange. SHARING focuses on smart/intelligent local processing by making use of measuring/observing the local radio environment, learning and making autonomous decisions, by triggering relevant SON optimization mechanisms, and intelligent traffic offloading. Such an evolved local paradigm for small cells can act as a major enabler of future digital wireless ecosystem due to its inherent proximity to end users, providing much higher data rates and low delays. Furthermore, SHARING will pave the way for innovative applications thanks to small cell deployments, including D2D communications and location-aware technologies.

• Take into account energy efficiency in conjunction to the fulfilment of capacity optimization

SHARING has the primary objective to improve capacity and user experience and proposes multiple research directions for improvements. In each of these directions, energy efficiency will mostly be taken into account as a background transversal objective. As an example, SHARING investigates multi-RAT HetNets that consist of nodes with different characteristics such as transmission powers, radio frequency bands, duplexing modes, and distributed antenna systems. As a result, a very energy-efficient and versatile Radio Frequency (RF) front end will be targeted resulting in adaptive and re-configurable hardware which allows for Carrier Aggregation (CA) for small cells with multi-gigabit transmissions over hybrid (wired/wireless) backhaul.