Real-time QoS Routing Scheme in SDN-based Robotic Cyber-Physical Systems

Industrial cyber-physical systems (CPS) have gained enormous attention of manufacturers in recent years due to their automation and cost reduction capabilities in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). Such an industrial network of connected cyber and physical components may consist of highly expensive components such as robots. In order to provide efficient communication in such a network, it is imperative to improve the Quality-of-Service (QoS). Software Defined Networking (SDN) has become a key technology in realizing QoS concepts in a dynamic fashion by allowing a centralized controller to program each flow with a unified interface. However, state-of-the-art solutions do not effectively use the centralized visibility of SDN to fulfill QoS requirements of such industrial networks. In this paper, we propose an SDN-based routing mechanism which attempts to improve QoS in robotic cyber-physical systems which have hard real-time requirements. We exploit the SDN capabilities to dynamically select paths based on current link parameters in order to improve the QoS in such delay-constrained networks. We verify the efficiency of the proposed approach on a realistic industrial OpenFlow topology. Our experiments reveal that the proposed approach significantly outperforms an existing delay-based routing mechanism in terms of average throughput, end-to-end delay and jitter. The proposed solution would prove to be significant for the industrial applications in robotic cyber-physical systems

Small-Packet Flows in Software Defined Networks: Traffic Profile Optimization

This paper proposes a method for optimizing bandwidth usage in Software Defined Networks (SDNs) based on OpenFlow. Flows of small packets presenting a high overhead, as the ones generated by emerging services, can be identified by the SDN controller, in order to remove header fields that are common to any packet in the flow, only during their way through the SDN. At the same time, several packets can be multiplexed together in the same frame, thus reducing the overall number of frames. The method can be useful for providing QoS while the packets are traversing the SDN. Four kinds of small-packet traffic flows are considered (VoIP, UDP and TCP-based online games, and ACKs from TCP flows). Both IPv4 and IPv6 are studied, and significant bandwidth savings (up to 68 % for IPv4 and 78 % for IPv6) can be obtained for the considered kinds of traffic. The optimization method is also applied to different public Internet traffic traces, and significant reductions in terms of packets per second are achieved. Results show that bandwidth consumption is also reduced, especially in those traces where the percentage of small packets is high. Regarding the effect on QoS, the additional delay can be kept very low (below 1 millisecond) when the throughput is high, but it may become significant for low- throughput scenarios. Thus, a trade-off between bandwidth saving and additional delay appears in those cases

Agile management and interoperability testing of SDN/NFV-enriched 5G core networks

In the fifth generation (5G) era, the radio internet protocol capacity is expected to reach 20Gb/s per sector, and ultralarge content traffic will travel across a faster wireless/wireline access network and packet core network. Moreover, the massive and mission-critical Internet of Things is the main differentiator of 5G services. These types of real-time and large-bandwidth-consuming services require a radio latency of less than 1 ms and an end-to-end latency of less than a few milliseconds. By distributing 5G core nodes closer to cell sites, the backhaul traffic volume and latency can be significantly reduced by having mobile devices download content immediately from a closer content server. In this paper, we propose a novel solution based on software-defined network and network function virtualization technologies in order to achieve agile management of 5G core network functionalities with a proof-of-concept implementation targeted for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and describe the results of interoperability testing experiences between two core networks

Intelligent multimedia flow transmission through heterogeneous networks using cognitive software defined networks

[ES] La presente tesis aborda el problema del encaminamiento en las redes definidas por software (SDN). Específicamente, aborda el problema del diseño de un protocolo de encaminamiento basado en inteligencia artificial (AI) para garantizar la calidad de servicio (QoS) en transmisiones multimedia. En la primera parte del trabajo, el concepto de SDN es introducido. Su arquitectura, protocolos y ventajas son comentados. A continuación, el estado del arte es presentado, donde diversos trabajos acerca de QoS, encaminamiento, SDN y AI son detallados. En el siguiente capítulo, el controlador SDN, el cual juega un papel central en la arquitectura propuesta, es presentado. Se detalla el diseño del controlador y se compara su rendimiento con otro controlador comúnmente utilizado. Más tarde, se describe las propuestas de encaminamiento. Primero, se aborda la modificación de un protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional. Esta modificación tiene como objetivo adaptar el protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional a las redes SDN, centrado en las transmisiones multimedia. A continuación, la propuesta final es descrita. Sus mensajes, arquitectura y algoritmos son mostrados. Referente a la AI, el capítulo 5 detalla el módulo de la arquitectura que la implementa, junto con los métodos inteligentes usados en la propuesta de encaminamiento. Además, el algoritmo inteligente de decisión de rutas es descrito y la propuesta es comparada con el protocolo de encaminamiento tradicional y con su adaptación a las redes SDN, mostrando un incremento de la calidad final de la transmisión. Finalmente, se muestra y se describe algunas aplicaciones basadas en la propuesta. Las aplicaciones son presentadas para demostrar que la solución presentada en la tesis está diseñada para trabajar en redes heterogéneas.[CA] La present tesi tracta el problema de l'encaminament en les xarxes definides per programari (SDN). Específicament, tracta el problema del disseny d'un protocol d'encaminament basat en intel·ligència artificial (AI) per a garantir la qualitat de servici (QoS) en les transmissions multimèdia. En la primera part del treball, s'introdueix les xarxes SDN. Es comenten la seva arquitectura, els protocols i els avantatges. A continuació, l'estat de l'art és presentat, on es detellen els diversos treballs al voltant de QoS, encaminament, SDN i AI. Al següent capítol, el controlador SDN, el qual juga un paper central a l'arquitectura proposta, és presentat. Es detalla el disseny del controlador i es compara el seu rendiment amb altre controlador utilitzat comunament. Més endavant, es descriuen les propostes d'encaminament. Primer, s'aborda la modificació d'un protocol d'encaminament tradicional. Aquesta modificació té com a objectiu adaptar el protocol d'encaminament tradicional a les xarxes SDN, centrat a les transmissions multimèdia. A continuació, la proposta final és descrita. Els seus missatges, arquitectura i algoritmes són mostrats. Pel que fa a l'AI, el capítol 5 detalla el mòdul de l'arquitectura que la implementa, junt amb els mètodes intel·ligents usats en la proposta d'encaminament. A més a més, l'algoritme intel·ligent de decisió de rutes és descrit i la proposta és comparada amb el protocol d'encaminament tradicional i amb la seva adaptació a les xarxes SDN, mostrant un increment de la qualitat final de la transmissió. Finalment, es mostra i es descriuen algunes aplicacions basades en la proposta. Les aplicacions són presentades per a demostrar que la solució presentada en la tesi és dissenyada per a treballar en xarxes heterogènies.[EN] This thesis addresses the problem of routing in Software Defined Networks (SDN). Specifically, the problem of designing a routing protocol based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) in multimedia transmissions. In the first part of the work, SDN is introduced. Its architecture, protocols and advantages are discussed. Then, the state of the art is presented, where several works regarding QoS, routing, SDN and AI are detailed. In the next chapter, the SDN controller, which plays the central role in the proposed architecture, is presented. The design of the controller is detailed and its performance compared to another common controller. Later, the routing proposals are described. First, a modification of a traditional routing protocol is discussed. This modification intends to adapt a traditional routing protocol to SDN, focused on multimedia transmissions. Then, the final proposal is described. Its messages, architecture and algorithms are depicted. As regards AI, chapter 5 details the module of the architecture that implements it, along with all the intelligent methods used in the routing proposal. Furthermore, the intelligent route decision algorithm is described and the final proposal is compared to the traditional routing protocol and its adaptation to SDN, showing an increment of the end quality of the transmission. Finally, some applications based on the routing proposal are described. The applications are presented to demonstrate that the proposed solution can work with heterogeneous networks.Rego Máñez, A. (2020). Intelligent multimedia flow transmission through heterogeneous networks using cognitive software defined networks [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/160483TESI

Traffic-aware adaptive server load balancing for software defined networks

Servers in data center networks handle heterogenous bulk loads. Load balancing, therefore, plays an important role in optimizing network bandwidth and minimizing response time. A complete knowledge of the current network status is needed to provide a stable load in the network. The process of network status catalog in a traditional network needs additional processing which increases complexity, whereas, in software defined networking, the control plane monitors the overall working of the network continuously. Hence it is decided to propose an efficient load balancing algorithm that adapts SDN. This paper proposes an efficient algorithm TA-ASLB-traffic-aware adaptive server load balancing to balance the flows to the servers in a data center network. It works based on two parameters, residual bandwidth, and server capacity. It detects the elephant flows and forwards them towards the optimal server where it can be processed quickly. It has been tested with the Mininet simulator and gave considerably better results compared to the existing server load balancing algorithms in the floodlight controller. After experimentation and analysis, it is understood that the method provides comparatively better results than the existing load balancing algorithms

Exploring traffic and QoS management mechanisms to support mobile cloud computing using service localisation in heterogeneous environments

In recent years, mobile devices have evolved to support an amalgam of multimedia applications and content. However, the small size of these devices poses a limit the amount of local computing resources. The emergence of Cloud technology has set the ground for an era of task offloading for mobile devices and we are now seeing the deployment of applications that make more extensive use of Cloud processing as a means of augmenting the capabilities of mobiles. Mobile Cloud Computing is the term used to describe the convergence of these technologies towards applications and mechanisms that offload tasks from mobile devices to the Cloud. In order for mobile devices to access Cloud resources and successfully offload tasks there, a solution for constant and reliable connectivity is required. The proliferation of wireless technology ensures that networks are available almost everywhere in an urban environment and mobile devices can stay connected to a network at all times. However, user mobility is often the cause of intermittent connectivity that affects the performance of applications and ultimately degrades the user experience. 5th Generation Networks are introducing mechanisms that enable constant and reliable connectivity through seamless handovers between networks and provide the foundation for a tighter coupling between Cloud resources and mobiles. This convergence of technologies creates new challenges in the areas of traffic management and QoS provisioning. The constant connectivity to and reliance of mobile devices on Cloud resources have the potential of creating large traffic flows between networks. Furthermore, depending on the type of application generating the traffic flow, very strict QoS may be required from the networks as suboptimal performance may severely degrade an application’s functionality. In this thesis, I propose a new service delivery framework, centred on the convergence of Mobile Cloud Computing and 5G networks for the purpose of optimising service delivery in a mobile environment. The framework is used as a guideline for identifying different aspects of service delivery in a mobile environment and for providing a path for future research in this field. The focus of the thesis is placed on the service delivery mechanisms that are responsible for optimising the QoS and managing network traffic. I present a solution for managing traffic through dynamic service localisation according to user mobility and device connectivity. I implement a prototype of the solution in a virtualised environment as a proof of concept and demonstrate the functionality and results gathered from experimentation. Finally, I present a new approach to modelling network performance by taking into account user mobility. The model considers the overall performance of a persistent connection as the mobile node switches between different networks. Results from the model can be used to determine which networks will negatively affect application performance and what impact they will have for the duration of the user's movement. The proposed model is evaluated using an analytical approac

QUALITY-OF-SERVICE PROVISIONING FOR SMART CITY APPLICATIONS USING SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORKING

In the current world, most cities have WiFi Access Points (AP) in every nook and corner. Hence upraising these cities to the status of a smart city is a more easily achievable task than before. Internet-of-Things (IoT) connections primarily use WiFi standards to form the veins of a smart city. Unfortunately, this vast potential of WiFi technology in the genesis of smart cities is somehow compromised due to its failure in meeting unique Quality-of-Service (QoS) demands of smart city applications. Out of the following QoS factors; transmission link bandwidth, packet transmission delay, jitter, and packet loss rate, not all applications call for the all of the factors at the same time. Since smart city is a pool of drastically unrelated services, this variable demand can actually be advantageous to optimize the network performance. This thesis work is an attempt to achieve one of those QoS demands, namely packet delivery latency. Three algorithms are developed to alleviate traffic load imbalance at APs so as to reduce packet forwarding delay. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is making its way in the network world to be of great use and practicality. The algorithms make use of SDN features to control the connections to APs in order to achieve the delay requirements of smart city services. Real hardware devices are used to imitate a real-life scenario of citywide coverage consisting of WiFi devices and APs that are currently available in the market with neither of those having any additional requirements such as support for specific roaming protocol, running a software agent or sending probe packets. Extensive hardware experimentation proves the efficacy of the proposed algorithms