671 research outputs found
Control-data separation architecture for cellular radio access networks: a survey and outlook
Conventional cellular systems are designed to ensure ubiquitous coverage with an always present wireless channel irrespective of the spatial and temporal demand of service. This approach raises several problems due to the tight coupling between network and data access points, as well as the paradigm shift towards data-oriented services, heterogeneous deployments and network densification. A logical separation between control and data planes is seen as a promising solution that could overcome these issues, by providing data services under the umbrella of a coverage layer. This article presents a holistic survey of existing literature on the control-data separation architecture (CDSA) for cellular radio access networks. As a starting point, we discuss the fundamentals, concepts, and general structure of the CDSA. Then, we point out limitations of the conventional architecture in futuristic deployment scenarios. In addition, we present and critically discuss the work that has been done to investigate potential benefits of the CDSA, as well as its technical challenges and enabling technologies. Finally, an overview of standardisation proposals related to this research vision is provided
Dynamic Time-domain Duplexing for Self-backhauled Millimeter Wave Cellular Networks
Millimeter wave (mmW) bands between 30 and 300 GHz have attracted
considerable attention for next-generation cellular networks due to vast
quantities of available spectrum and the possibility of very high-dimensional
antenna ar-rays. However, a key issue in these systems is range: mmW signals
are extremely vulnerable to shadowing and poor high-frequency propagation.
Multi-hop relaying is therefore a natural technology for such systems to
improve cell range and cell edge rates without the addition of wired access
points. This paper studies the problem of scheduling for a simple
infrastructure cellular relay system where communication between wired base
stations and User Equipment follow a hierarchical tree structure through fixed
relay nodes. Such a systems builds naturally on existing cellular mmW backhaul
by adding mmW in the access links. A key feature of the proposed system is that
TDD duplexing selections can be made on a link-by-link basis due to directional
isolation from other links. We devise an efficient, greedy algorithm for
centralized scheduling that maximizes network utility by jointly optimizing the
duplexing schedule and resources allocation for dense, relay-enhanced OFDMA/TDD
mmW networks. The proposed algorithm can dynamically adapt to loading, channel
conditions and traffic demands. Significant throughput gains and improved
resource utilization offered by our algorithm over the static,
globally-synchronized TDD patterns are demonstrated through simulations based
on empirically-derived channel models at 28 GHz.Comment: IEEE Workshop on Next Generation Backhaul/Fronthaul Networks -
BackNets 201
Separation Framework: An Enabler for Cooperative and D2D Communication for Future 5G Networks
Soaring capacity and coverage demands dictate that future cellular networks
need to soon migrate towards ultra-dense networks. However, network
densification comes with a host of challenges that include compromised energy
efficiency, complex interference management, cumbersome mobility management,
burdensome signaling overheads and higher backhaul costs. Interestingly, most
of the problems, that beleaguer network densification, stem from legacy
networks' one common feature i.e., tight coupling between the control and data
planes regardless of their degree of heterogeneity and cell density.
Consequently, in wake of 5G, control and data planes separation architecture
(SARC) has recently been conceived as a promising paradigm that has potential
to address most of aforementioned challenges. In this article, we review
various proposals that have been presented in literature so far to enable SARC.
More specifically, we analyze how and to what degree various SARC proposals
address the four main challenges in network densification namely: energy
efficiency, system level capacity maximization, interference management and
mobility management. We then focus on two salient features of future cellular
networks that have not yet been adapted in legacy networks at wide scale and
thus remain a hallmark of 5G, i.e., coordinated multipoint (CoMP), and
device-to-device (D2D) communications. After providing necessary background on
CoMP and D2D, we analyze how SARC can particularly act as a major enabler for
CoMP and D2D in context of 5G. This article thus serves as both a tutorial as
well as an up to date survey on SARC, CoMP and D2D. Most importantly, the
article provides an extensive outlook of challenges and opportunities that lie
at the crossroads of these three mutually entangled emerging technologies.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figures, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 201
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