Cooperative Multi-Bitrate Video Caching and Transcoding in Multicarrier NOMA-Assisted Heterogeneous Virtualized MEC Networks

Cooperative video caching and transcoding in mobile edge computing (MEC) networks is a new paradigm for future wireless networks, e.g., 5G and 5G beyond, to reduce scarce and expensive backhaul resource usage by prefetching video files within radio access networks (RANs). Integration of this technique with other advent technologies, such as wireless network virtualization and multicarrier non-orthogonal multiple access (MC-NOMA), provides more flexible video delivery opportunities, which leads to enhancements both for the network's revenue and for the end-users' service experience. In this regard, we propose a two-phase RAF for a parallel cooperative joint multi-bitrate video caching and transcoding in heterogeneous virtualized MEC networks. In the cache placement phase, we propose novel proactive delivery-aware cache placement strategies (DACPSs) by jointly allocating physical and radio resources based on network stochastic information to exploit flexible delivery opportunities. Then, for the delivery phase, we propose a delivery policy based on the user requests and network channel conditions. The optimization problems corresponding to both phases aim to maximize the total revenue of network slices, i.e., virtual networks. Both problems are non-convex and suffer from high-computational complexities. For each phase, we show how the problem can be solved efficiently. We also propose a low-complexity RAF in which the complexity of the delivery algorithm is significantly reduced. A Delivery-aware cache refreshment strategy (DACRS) in the delivery phase is also proposed to tackle the dynamically changes of network stochastic information. Extensive numerical assessments demonstrate a performance improvement of up to 30% for our proposed DACPSs and DACRS over traditional approaches.Comment: 53 pages, 24 figure

Dynamic resource allocation for virtualized wireless networks in massive-MIMO-aided and Front-haul-Limited C-RAN

This work considers the uplink dynamic resource allocation in a cloud radio access network (C-RAN) serving users belonging to different service providers (called slices) to form virtualized wireless networks (VWN). In particular, the C-RAN supports a pool of base-station (BS) baseband units (BBUs), which are connected to BS radio remote heads (RRHs) equipped with massive MIMO, via fronthaul links with limited capacity. Assuming that each user can be assigned to a single RRH-BBU pair, we formulate a resource allocation problem aiming to maximize the total system rate, constrained on the minimum rates required by the slices and the maximum number of antennas and power allocated to each user. The effects of pilot contamination error on the VWN performance are investigated and pilot duration is considered as a new optimization variable in resource allocation. This problem is inherently non-convex, NP-hard and thus computationally inefficient. By applying the successive convex approximation (SCA) and complementary geometric programming (CGP) approach, we propose a twostep iterative algorithm: one to adjust the RRH, BBU, and fronthaul parameters, and the other for power and antenna allocation to users. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the developed algorithm for VWNs in a massive-MIMO-aided and fronthaul-limited C-RAN, and demonstrate the effects of imperfect CSI estimation due to pilot contamination error, and the optimal pilot duration

Algorithms for advance bandwidth reservation in media production networks

Media production generally requires many geographically distributed actors (e.g., production houses, broadcasters, advertisers) to exchange huge amounts of raw video and audio data. Traditional distribution techniques, such as dedicated point-to-point optical links, are highly inefficient in terms of installation time and cost. To improve efficiency, shared media production networks that connect all involved actors over a large geographical area, are currently being deployed. The traffic in such networks is often predictable, as the timing and bandwidth requirements of data transfers are generally known hours or even days in advance. As such, the use of advance bandwidth reservation (AR) can greatly increase resource utilization and cost efficiency. In this paper, we propose an Integer Linear Programming formulation of the bandwidth scheduling problem, which takes into account the specific characteristics of media production networks, is presented. Two novel optimization algorithms based on this model are thoroughly evaluated and compared by means of in-depth simulation results