Auction-Based Coopetition between LTE Unlicensed and Wi-Fi

Motivated by the recent efforts in extending LTE to the unlicensed spectrum, we propose a novel spectrum sharing framework for the coopetition (i.e., cooperation and competition) between LTE and Wi-Fi in the unlicensed band. Basically, the LTE network can choose to work in one of the two modes: in the competition mode, it randomly accesses an unlicensed channel, and interferes with the Wi-Fi access point using the same channel; in the cooperation mode, it delivers traffic for the Wi-Fi users in exchange for the exclusive access of the corresponding channel. Because the LTE network works in an interference-free manner in the cooperation mode, it can achieve a much larger data rate than that in the competition mode, which allows it to effectively serve both its own users and the Wi-Fi users. We design a second-price reverse auction mechanism, which enables the LTE provider and the Wi-Fi access point owners (APOs) to effectively negotiate the operation mode. Specifically, the LTE provider is the auctioneer (buyer), and the APOs are the bidders (sellers) who compete to sell their channel access opportunities to the LTE provider. In Stage I of the auction, the LTE provider announces a reserve rate. In Stage II of the auction, the APOs submit their bids. We show that the auction involves allocative externalities, i.e., the cooperation between the LTE provider and one APO benefits other APOs who are not directly involved in this cooperation. As a result, a particular APO's willingness to cooperate is affected by its belief about other APOs' willingness to cooperate. This makes our analysis much more challenging than that of the conventional second-price auction, where bidding truthfully is a weakly dominant strategy. We show that the APOs have a unique form of the equilibrium bidding strategies in Stage II, based on which we analyze the LTE provider's optimal reserve rate in Stage I.Comment: 32 page

Mobile data and computation offloading in mobile cloud computing

Le trafic mobile augmente considérablement en raison de la popularité des appareils mobiles et des applications mobiles. Le déchargement de données mobiles est une solution permettant de réduire la congestion du réseau cellulaire. Le déchargement de calcul mobile peut déplacer les tâches de calcul d'appareils mobiles vers le cloud. Dans cette thèse, nous étudions d'abord le problème du déchargement de données mobiles dans l'architecture du cloud computing mobile. Afin de minimiser les coûts de transmission des données, nous formulons le processus de déchargement des données sous la forme d'un processus de décision de Markov à horizon fini. Nous proposons deux algorithmes de déchargement des données pour un coût minimal. Ensuite, nous considérons un marché sur lequel un opérateur de réseau mobile peut vendre de la bande passante à des utilisateurs mobiles. Nous formulons ce problème sous la forme d'une enchère comportant plusieurs éléments afin de maximiser les bénéfices de l'opérateur de réseau mobile. Nous proposons un algorithme d'optimisation robuste et deux algorithmes itératifs pour résoudre ce problème. Enfin, nous nous concentrons sur les problèmes d'équilibrage de charge afin de minimiser la latence du déchargement des calculs. Nous formulons ce problème comme un jeu de population. Nous proposons deux algorithmes d'équilibrage de la charge de travail basés sur la dynamique évolutive et des protocoles de révision. Les résultats de la simulation montrent l'efficacité et la robustesse des méthodes proposées.Global mobile traffic is increasing dramatically due to the popularity of smart mobile devices and data hungry mobile applications. Mobile data offloading is considered as a promising solution to alleviate congestion in cellular network. Mobile computation offloading can move computation intensive tasks and large data storage from mobile devices to cloud. In this thesis, we first study mobile data offloading problem under the architecture of mobile cloud computing. In order to minimize the overall cost for data delivery, we formulate the data offloading process, as a finite horizon Markov decision process, and we propose two data offloading algorithms to achieve minimal communication cost. Then, we consider a mobile data offloading market where mobile network operator can sell bandwidth to mobile users. We formulate this problem as a multi-item auction in order to maximize the profit of mobile network operator. We propose one robust optimization algorithm and two iterative algorithms to solve this problem. Finally, we investigate computation offloading problem in mobile edge computing. We focus on workload balancing problems to minimize the transmission latency and computation latency of computation offloading. We formulate this problem as a population game, in order to analyze the aggregate offloading decisions, and we propose two workload balancing algorithms based on evolutionary dynamics and revision protocols. Simulation results show the efficiency and robustness of our proposed methods

Análisis de soluciones tecnológicas que utilicen el uso compartido de espectro y propuestas técnicas para su implementación en el marco normativo peruano

El espectro radioeléctrico es el insumo esencial para prestar servicios inalámbricos. Un correcto y eficiente uso del mismo permite que los prestadores de estos servicios, en particular, los servicios móviles, puedan atender de manera eficaz y con calidad de servicio a sus usuarios en un escenario en donde se observa una creciente demanda exponencial de datos y de dispositivos conectados a la Internet. No obstante, el espectro radioeléctrico para servicios inalámbricos es un recurso escaso, por lo que establecer el máximo provecho de uso, utilizando soluciones tecnológicas que permitan compartir el uso del mismo entre diversos servicios inalámbricos, con el menor grado de interferencia entre ellos es de suma utilidad para maximizar el uso eficiente del espectro. Es así que la presente tesis, tiene como objetivo explorar diversas soluciones tecnológicas y regulatorias como: i) el Roaming Nacional, ii) la compartición de infraestructura activa con espectro compartido, iii) la asignación dinámica de espectro, iv) los operadores móviles virtuales y v) los operadores de infraestructura móvil rural, que permitan compartir de manera efectiva el uso del espectro radioeléctrico y mejorar el uso eficiente del mismo. Para ello, se realiza una revisión del estado del arte de dichas soluciones tecnológicas y regulatorias, se revisa la experiencia internacional de la implementación de las mismas en Latinoamérica Europa y Asia, así como un análisis técnico y regulatorio de las ventajas y desventajas de las mismas. Luego de ello, se proponen criterios técnicos que se deben de considerar en caso se implementen dichas soluciones tecnológicas en el mercado peruano, ya sea de manera obligatoria para todo el sector o criterios técnicos generales para aprobar acuerdos privados entre operadores móviles. Asimismo, se mencionan cuáles serían los cambios normativos necesarios para la implementación de las mismas a nivel regulatorio. Finalmente, como parte de las recomendaciones de la presente tesis se propone una línea de tiempo de adopción de dichas alternativas tecnológicas revisadas, así como propuestas para realizar proyectos pilotos que contemple el uso de los Espacios en Blanco de Espectro por el Fondo de Inversión en Telecomunicaciones. Asimismo, se recomienda que para futuros estudios, se estima necesario que se estudie una nueva metodología de que permita al concedente del espectro radioeléctrico en el Perú (Ministerio de Transporte y Comunicaciones) evaluar de mejor manera las metas de uso del espectro radioeléctrico en las concesiones de espectro, toda vez que la actualmente vigente no permite maximizar el uso eficiente del espectro radioeléctrico. Asimismo, se recomienda incentivar el uso del espectro no licenciado en conjunto con espectro licenciado por parte de los operadores móviles, con la finalidad de brindar mayores facilidades para atender la exponencial demanda de datos del sector, mediante la revisión de regulaciones que permitan un uso justo del espectro en bandas como la de 5.8 GHz.Tesi

SLICING-BASED RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND MOBILITY MANAGEMENT FOR EMERGING WIRELESS NETWORKS

The proliferation of smart mobile devices and user applications has continued to contribute to the tremendous volume of data traffic in cellular networks. Moreover, with the feature of heterogeneous connectivity interfaces of these smart devices, it becomes more complex for managing the traffic volume in the context of mobility. To surmount this challenge, service and resource providers are looking for alternative mechanisms that can successfully facilitate managing network resources and mobility in a more dynamic, predictive and distributed manner. New concepts of network architectures such as Software-Defined Network (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) have paved the way to move from static to flexible networks. They make networks more flexible (i.e., network providers capable of on-demand provisioning), easily customizable and cost effective. In this regard, network slicing is emerging as a new technology built on the concepts of SDN and NFV. It splits a network infrastructure into isolated virtual networks and allows them to manage network resources based on their requirements and characteristics. Most of the existing solutions for network slicing are facing challenges in terms of resource and mobility management. Regarding resource management, it creates challenges in terms of provisioning network throughput, end-to-end delay, and fairness resources allocation for each slice, whereas, in the case of mobility management, due to the rapid change of user mobility the network slice operator would like to hold the mobility controlling over its clients across different access networks, rather than the network operator, to ensure better services and user experience. In this thesis, we propose two novel architectural solutions to solve the challenges identified above. The first proposed solution introduces a Network Slicing Resource Management (NSRM) mechanism that assigns the required resources for each slice, taking into consideration resource isolation between different slices. The second proposed v solution provides a Mobility Management architecture-based Network Slicing (MMNS) where each slice manages its users across heterogeneous radio access technologies such as WiFi, LTE and 5G networks. In MMNS architecture, each slice has different mobility demands (e.g,. latency, speed and interference) and these demands are governed by a network slice configuration and service characteristics. In addition, NSRM ensures isolating, customizing and fair sharing of distributed bandwidths between various network slices and users belonging to the same slice depending on different requirements of each one. Whereas, MMNS is a logical platform that unifies different Radio Access Technologies (RATs) and allows all slices to share them in order to satisfy different slice mobility demands. We considered two software simulations, namely OPNET Modeler and OMNET++, to validate the performance evaluation of the thesis contributions. The simulation results for both proposed architectures show that, in case of NSRM, the resource blocking is approximately 35% less compared to the legacy LTE network, which it allows to accommodate more users. The NSRM also successfully maintains the isolation for both the inter and intra network slices. Moreover, the results show that the NSRM is able to run different scheduling mechanisms where each network slice guarantee perform its own scheduling mechanism and simultaneously with other slices. Regarding the MMNS, the results show the advantages of the proposed architecture that are the reduction of the tunnelling overhead and the minimization of the handover latency. The MMNS results show the packets delivery cost is optimal by reducing the number of hops that the packets transit between a source node and destination. Additionally, seamless session continues of a user IP-flow between different access networks interfaces has been successfully achieved

REGULATION OF STANDARDS IN TECHNOLOGY MARKETS: TRACING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMPETITION LAW AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The implications of standardization cannot be overstated: today, the global economy relies heavily on technical standards because they foster technology diffusion and economic growth. Yet little is known about their implications for global competition policy, innovation and trade. This absence in legal analysis is particularly critical in the context of disruptive technological advancements featured in information and communication technology and other innovation-intensive sectors, characterized by strong network effects, inter-operability and compatibility of consumer products and processes. In this respect, standards are constitutive of development and pivotal market enablers, as they represent a decisive instrument for gauging and capitalizing on technological advances. Nevertheless, technical standards can also serve the strategic interests of incumbents, which derive notable benefits from having their patented technologies selected as part of the standard. The concern is mainly due to the need to ensure that market power exerted by holding patents which are deemed essential to the implementation of technical standards – i.e. standard-essential patents – is not abused, hampering effective competition. However, the competition law outlook is only one side of the problem. To the extent that dissimilarities in laws and public policies concerning standardization pose significant hindrances for cross-border trade, this has pressed latecomers in the international economy to call for more penetrating government intervention, supporting the development and adoption of competing homegrown complementary standards as a source of economic catch-up, which, in return, could gain ground as a novel type of substantial, protectionist, non-tariff barrier to trade. My study adopts the following methodological approach: it addresses the international dimension of tension between IP rights in standards and competition law, investigating the role of international trade law – and the WTO in particular – (a) in enabling a status quo advantageous to incumbent IP holders in deterring new entrants and reaping monopoly rents, and (b) in addressing latecomers’ efforts to create new technical barriers to trade. An enlightening example is China’s standardization policy: Beijing’s authorities are inclined to rely on standards as a public policy regulatory tool for a variety of purposes, including promoting indigenous’ industries. My purpose is to develop a conceptual framework for addressing international competition and trade issues raised by standardization in innovation markets, with an emphasis on practical, policy-oriented research. Building on comparative, science and technology literature and theories of government regulation, I am interested in how diverging regulatory philosophies – especially in late-comer economies such as China – affect innovation. Drawing from different models of government intervention, my study investigates the advisability of establishing a coherent global competition framework integrated within international economic law so as to prevent global market distortions and foster welfare-enhancing trading policies to be deployed in the consumer – and public – interest