Slicing on the road: enabling the automotive vertical through 5G network softwarization

The demanding requirements of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) applications, such as ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth, highly-reliable communication, intensive computation and near-real time data processing, raise outstanding challenges and opportunities for fifth generation (5G) systems. By allowing an operator to flexibly provide dedicated logical networks with (virtualized) functionalities over a common physical infrastructure, network slicing candidates itself as a prominent solution to support V2X over upcoming programmable and softwarized 5G systems in a business-agile manner. In this paper, a network slicing framework is proposed along with relevant building blocks and mechanisms to support V2X applications by flexibly orchestrating multi-access and edge-dominated 5G network infrastructures, especially with reference to roaming scenarios. Proof of concept experiments using the Mininet emulator showcase the viability and potential benefits of the proposed framework for cooperative driving use cases1812não temMinistério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações - MCTICThe research of Prof. Christian Esteve Rothenberg was partially supported by the H2020 4th EUBR Collaborative Call, under the grant agreement number 777067 (NECOS - Novel Enablers for Cloud Slicing), funded by the European Commission and the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communication (MCTIC) through RNP and CTI

Network-aware video streaming for future media Internet

272 p

Network-driven handover in 5G

Currently, users’ expectations regarding technological performance are constantly increasing. An example of this is the growing consumption of multimedia content via the Internet. Multimedia applications with a variable number of users/requests have variable demand over time that may expose the limitation of the network channels. This may cause a problem of demand mobility generated by the service/application. Each generation of mobile networks has specific handover processes, which in the case of 4G can be controlled according to the applications requirements, with the possibility of multiconnectivity. This process was massified in 5G. The main contribution of this dissertation is the development and analysis of decision models for controlling the video streaming and user association to a BS in the network architecture. The scenario considered refers to a football stadium with multiple points of view – video streams – that each spectator can request to view on their cell phone or tablet. The developed simulator models the stadium scenario using a combination of services, which occur on the 5G network. Vertical handover generated by the network is used,aidedbynetworkslicing. Thenetworkslicingactsinthepartofthebandwidthdivision between the different antennas and allows the throughput of the different broadcast (FeMBMS)channelsto becontrolledbytheservice -theradionetworkcapacitylimitsthe throughput. The results obtained in a case of 80000 spectators who select different beams over time, considering8basestations(BS),showthatthequalityofexperienceishighonlywhenthe handover and the control of beam diffusion by BS are managed according to the application requirements. The network recovers from huge peaks by handling as many requests at once as possible. Instead of the user only getting the steam in a good quality or not getting it at all, the network performs a best-effort solution of downgrading the quality of multicasting in order to expend less resources with the same quantity of requests. The network state is taken into consideration. Although there are load peaks on the network, it is never congested.Atualmente, as expectativas dos utilizadores em relação à capacidade tecnológica não param de aumentar. Exemplo disso é o crescente consumo de conteúdo multimédia através da Internet. Aplicações multimédia com número variável de utilizadores e pedidos têm um fluxo de serviço variável ao longo do tempo. Esta variância pode expor a limitação de canais de rede, que consequentemente pode causar um problema de mobilidade gerado pelo serviço/aplicação. Cada geração de redes móveis possui processos de handover de utilizadores específicos, que no caso da geração 4G passou a ser controlado em função das aplicações, com a possibilidade de multiconectividade. Este processo foi massificado no 5G. A principal contribuição desta dissertação é o desenvolvimento e análise de modelos de decisão para controlar a difusão de vídeo e a associação de utilizadores à rede rádio na arquitetura da rede. O cenário considerado reflete um estádio de futebol com vários pontos de vista - diferentes feixes de vídeo - que cada espectador pode solicitar e visualizar no seu telemóvel ou tablet. O simulador desenvolvido modela o cenário do estádio usando uma combinação de serviços, que ocorrem na rede 5G. É usado handover vertical gerado pela rede auxiliado por network slicing que atua na parte da divisão da largura de banda entre as diferentes antenas e permite que a taxa de débito dos diferentes canais de difusão (FeMBMS) seja controlada pelo serviço - a capacidade da rede rádio limita a taxa de transferência. Os resultados obtidos no caso de 80000 espectadores que selecionam diferentes feixes ao longo do tempo, considerando 8 estações base (BS), mostram que a qualidade de experiência somente é elevada quando o handover e o controlo da difusão de feixes pelas BS são geridos de acordo com os requisitos da aplicação. A rede recupera a estabilidade após enormes picos de transferência gerindo os seus recursos. Em vez do utilizador ser prejudicado na totalidade quando a rede não tem recursos e ser privado de obter serviço, é utilizado um processo alternativo em que a rede diminui a qualidade de multicasting, gastando menos recursos com a mesma quantidade de pedidos. O estado da rede é sempre tido em consideração - embora hajam picos de carga na rede, esta nunca fica congestionada

STUDY OF QUALITY OF SERVICE IN 4G AND 5G NETWORKS

[ES] El estudio de la calidad de servicio (QoS) es cada vez más importante, ya que la QoS se considera tan importante como la seguridad de la red. Es vital ofrecer suficiente QoS en servicios considerados críticos como las redes de comunicaciones en emergencias, el control remoto de maquinaria, o en el futuro, poder realizar operaciones a distancia gracias a tecnología como el 5G. Esta tesis presenta el estudio de la calidad de servicio en las redes de comunicaciones móviles. Los objetivos principales fueron describir los aspectos teóricos más relevantes en las redes 4G y 5G, los cambios en el campo de los nuevos desarrollos, G-NetTrack Pro y Qosium, las dos herramientas para realizar mediciones de QoS en redes móviles y, finalmente, realizar mediciones de QoS en un entorno de investigación. Se espera que de los resultados obtenidos se extraigan conclusiones sobre las herramientas utilizadas para futuros proyectos de investigación en materia de comunicaciones móviles. La metodología consistió en medir el rendimiento de una red 4G mediante la medición de la calidad de servicio suministrada en dos servicios con requisitos muy diferentes. Medición de la calidad de servicio en llamadas de voz sobre protocolo de Internet [VoIP] y medición de la calidad de servicio en una transmisión de vídeo. Con los resultados obtenidos se ha podido observar el excelente rendimiento de la red en diversas condiciones de interior y exterior, y se han podido aplicar los conocimientos teóricos previamente estudiados. Por último, se han identificado las ventajas y desventajas de las herramientas utilizadas. Se espera que esta tesis sea útil para futuros proyectos del grupo de investigación 5GTNT que midan la QoS con las herramientas descritas. Además, los resultados y conclusiones también pueden ser utilizados por terceros, ya que los resultados y conclusiones pueden ser útiles para entornos de investigación e industriales.[EN] The study of Quality of Service (QoS) is becoming increasingly important since QoS is considered equally important as network security. It is vital to offer sufficient QoS in services considered critical such as communications networks in emergencies, remote control of machinery, or in the future, to be able to perform remote operations thanks to technology such as 5G. This thesis presents the study of QoS in mobile communication networks. The main objectives were to describe the most relevant theoretical aspects in 4G and 5G networks, the changes in the field of new developments, G-NetTrack Pro and Qosium, the two tools to perform QoS measurements in mobile networks and finally, to perform QoS measurements in a research environment. It was expected that from the results obtained; conclusions will be drawn about the tools used for future research projects in mobile communications. The methodology consisted of measuring the performance of a 4G network by measuring the QoS delivered in two services with very different requirements. Measuring QoS in Voice Over Internet Protocol [VoIP] calls and measuring QoS in a video-streaming. With the results obtained, it has been possible to observe the excellent performance of the network under various indoor and outdoor conditions, and it has been possible to apply the theoretical knowledge previously studied. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the tools used have been identified. It is expected that this thesis will be useful for future projects of the research group 5GTNT measuring QoS with the described tools. In addition, the results and conclusions can also be used by third parties since the results and conclusions can be useful for research and industry environments.Pérez-Chuecos Alcaraz, PA. (2020). STUDY OF QUALITY OF SERVICE IN 4G AND 5G NETWORKS. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/152361TFG

NFV and SDN-based differentiated traffic treatment for residential networks

Producción CientíficaResidential networks play a critical role in assuring that services or applications such as tele-work, tele-education, medical care, entertainment, home automation, among others, have the required resources to obtain an optimal performance. Although current residential gateways try to meet the Quality of Service (QoS) demands, the traditional networking paradigm does not have the appropriate mechanisms to address the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the services running at home. In this context, a feasible solution consists of leveraging the flexibility and adaptability of the Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) paradigms to provide a differentiated traffic treatment intended to improve the QoS support of residential networks. The proposal takes advantage of the Service Function Chaining (SFC) concept intrinsic to NFV as well as the capacity of an SDN-based residential gateway to differentiate the traffic of a certain application. Thus, an association between an SFC and the differentiated traffic is stablished to apply a specific treatment. Besides, a comprehensive architecture composed of the software defined residential network (SDRN), the software defined access network (SDOAN) and the NFV-compliant ISP's edge cloud infrastructure is envisioned. This architecture would allow dramatically improving the life cycle management of the residential network from a centralized point which follows a user-centric approach.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grants TEC2015-67834-R, TEC2017-84423-C3-1-P, RED2018-102585-T and 0677_DISRUPTIVE_2_E

Implementação de serviços em ambientes multi-access edge computing

Driven by the visions of the 5th Generation of Mobile Networks (5G), and with an increasing acceptance of software-based network technologies, such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networks (SDN), a transformation in network infrastructure is presently taking place, along with different requirements in terms of how networks are managed and deployed. One of the significantly changes is a shift in the cloud computing paradigm, moving from a centralized cloud computing towards the edge of the network. This new environment, providing a cloud computing platform at the edge of the network, is referred to as Multi-Acess Edge Computing (MEC). The main feature of MEC is to provide mobile computing, network control and storage to the network edges, enabling computation-intensive and latency-critical applications targeting resource-limited mobile devices. In this thesis a MEC architecture solution is provided, capable of supporting heterogeneous access networks, to assist as a platform for service deployment. Several MEC use case scenarios are evaluated on the proposed scheme, in order to attest the advantages of a MEC deployment. Results show that the proposed environment is significantly faster on performing compute-intensive applications, mainly due to lower end-to-end latency, when compared to traditional centralized cloud servers, translating into energy saving, and reduced backhaul traffic.Impulsionados pelas visões da quinta geração de redes móveis, e com uma crescente aceitação das tecnologias de redes baseadas em software, tais como funções de redes virtualizadas (NFV) e redes definidas por software (SDN), encontramo-nos perante uma transformação na infraestrutura nas redes de telecomunicações, assim como no modo como estas são geridas e implementadas. Uma das alterações mais significativas é a mudança no paradigma de computação na cloud, passando de uma implementação centralizada para uma ramificada na direção das extremidades da rede. Este novo ambiente, que possibilita uma plataforma de computação na extremidade da rede, é denominado de Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC). A principal característica do MEC é fornecer computação móvel, armazenamento e recursos de rede na extremidade da rede, permitindo que terminais móveis com recursos limitados tenham acesso a aplicações exigentes em termos de latência e computação. Na presente tese, é apresentada uma solução de arquitetura MEC, que suporta ligações a redes de acesso heterogéneas, servindo de plataforma para a implementação de serviços. Alguns cenários MEC foram aplicados e avaliados na plataforma proposta, de forma a demonstrar as vantagens da implementação MEC. Os resultados demonstram que a plataforma proposta é significativamente mais rápida na execução computação intensiva, maioritariamente devido à baixa latência, quando comparado com os tradicionais datacenters centralizados, resultando numa poupança de energia e redução de tráfego no backhaul.Mestrado em Engenharia Eletrónica e Telecomunicaçõe

Progressive introduction of network softwarization in operational telecom networks: advances at architectural, service and transport levels

Technological paradigms such as Software Defined Networking, Network Function Virtualization and Network Slicing are altogether offering new ways of providing services. This process is widely known as Network Softwarization, where traditional operational networks adopt capabilities and mechanisms inherit form the computing world, such as programmability, virtualization and multi-tenancy. This adoption brings a number of challenges, both from the technological and operational perspectives. On the other hand, they provide an unprecedented flexibility opening opportunities to developing new services and new ways of exploiting and consuming telecom networks. This Thesis first overviews the implications of the progressive introduction of network softwarization in operational networks for later on detail some advances at different levels, namely architectural, service and transport levels. It is done through specific exemplary use cases and evolution scenarios, with the goal of illustrating both new possibilities and existing gaps for the ongoing transition towards an advanced future mode of operation. This is performed from the perspective of a telecom operator, paying special attention on how to integrate all these paradigms into operational networks for assisting on their evolution targeting new, more sophisticated service demands.Programa de Doctorado en Ingeniería Telemática por la Universidad Carlos III de MadridPresidente: Eduardo Juan Jacob Taquet.- Secretario: Francisco Valera Pintor.- Vocal: Jorge López Vizcaín

Improved planning and resource management in next generation green mobile communication networks

In upcoming years, mobile communication networks will experience a disruptive reinventing process through the deployment of post 5th Generation (5G) mobile networks. Profound impacts are expected on network planning processes, maintenance and operations, on mobile services, subscribers with major changes in their data consumption and generation behaviours, as well as on devices itself, with a myriad of different equipment communicating over such networks. Post 5G will be characterized by a profound transformation of several aspects: processes, technology, economic, social, but also environmental aspects, with energy efficiency and carbon neutrality playing an important role. It will represent a network of networks: where different types of access networks will coexist, an increasing diversity of devices of different nature, massive cloud computing utilization and subscribers with unprecedented data-consuming behaviours. All at greater throughput and quality of service, as unseen in previous generations. The present research work uses 5G new radio (NR) latest release as baseline for developing the research activities, with future networks post 5G NR in focus. Two approaches were followed: i) method re-engineering, to propose new mechanisms and overcome existing or predictably existing limitations and ii) concept design and innovation, to propose and present innovative methods or mechanisms to enhance and improve the design, planning, operation, maintenance and optimization of 5G networks. Four main research areas were addressed, focusing on optimization and enhancement of 5G NR future networks, the usage of edge virtualized functions, subscriber’s behavior towards the generation of data and a carbon sequestering model aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. Several contributions have been made and demonstrated, either through models of methodologies that will, on each of the research areas, provide significant improvements and enhancements from the planning phase to the operational phase, always focusing on optimizing resource management. All the contributions are retro compatible with 5G NR and can also be applied to what starts being foreseen as future mobile networks. From the subscriber’s perspective and the ultimate goal of providing the best quality of experience possible, still considering the mobile network operator’s (MNO) perspective, the different proposed or developed approaches resulted in optimization methods for the numerous problems identified throughout the work. Overall, all of such contributed individually but aggregately as a whole to improve and enhance globally future mobile networks. Therefore, an answer to the main question was provided: how to further optimize a next-generation network - developed with optimization in mind - making it even more efficient while, simultaneously, becoming neutral concerning carbon emissions. The developed model for MNOs which aimed to achieve carbon neutrality through CO2 sequestration together with the subscriber’s behaviour model - topics still not deeply focused nowadays – are two of the main contributions of this thesis and of utmost importance for post-5G networks.Nos próximos anos espera-se que as redes de comunicações móveis se reinventem para lá da 5ª Geração (5G), com impactos profundos ao nível da forma como são planeadas, mantidas e operacionalizadas, ao nível do comportamento dos subscritores de serviços móveis, e através de uma miríade de dispositivos a comunicar através das mesmas. Estas redes serão profundamente transformadoras em termos tecnológicos, económicos, sociais, mas também ambientais, sendo a eficiência energética e a neutralidade carbónica aspetos que sofrem uma profunda melhoria. Paradoxalmente, numa rede em que coexistirão diferentes tipos de redes de acesso, mais dispositivos, utilização massiva de sistema de computação em nuvem, e subscritores com comportamentos de consumo de serviços inéditos nas gerações anteriores. O trabalho desenvolvido utiliza como base a release mais recente das redes 5G NR (New Radio), sendo o principal focus as redes pós-5G. Foi adotada uma abordagem de "reengenharia de métodos” (com o objetivo de propor mecanismos para resolver limitações existentes ou previsíveis) e de “inovação e design de conceitos”, em que são apresentadas técnicas e metodologias inovadoras, com o principal objetivo de contribuir para um desenho e operação otimizadas desta geração de redes celulares. Quatro grandes áreas de investigação foram endereçadas, contribuindo individualmente para um todo: melhorias e otimização generalizada de redes pós-5G, a utilização de virtualização de funções de rede, a análise comportamental dos subscritores no respeitante à geração e consumo de tráfego e finalmente, um modelo de sequestro de carbono com o objetivo de compensar as emissões produzidas por esse tipo de redes que se prevê ser massiva, almejando atingir a neutralidade carbónica. Como resultado deste trabalho, foram feitas e demonstradas várias contribuições, através de modelos ou metodologias, representando em cada área de investigação melhorias e otimizações, que, todas contribuindo para o mesmo objetivo, tiveram em consideração a retro compatibilidade e aplicabilidade ao que se prevê que sejam as futuras redes pós 5G. Focando sempre na perspetiva do subscritor da melhor experiência possível, mas também no lado do operador de serviço móvel – que pretende otimizar as suas redes, reduzir custos e maximizar o nível de qualidade de serviço prestado - as diferentes abordagens que foram desenvolvidas ou propostas, tiveram como resultado a resolução ou otimização dos diferentes problemas identificados, contribuindo de forma agregada para a melhoria do sistema no seu todo, respondendo à questão principal de como otimizar ainda mais uma rede desenvolvida para ser extremamente eficiente, tornando-a, simultaneamente, neutra em termos de emissões de carbono. Das principais contribuições deste trabalho relevam-se precisamente o modelo de compensação das emissões de CO2, com vista à neutralidade carbónica e um modelo de análise comportamental dos subscritores, dois temas ainda pouco explorados e extremamente importantes em contexto de redes futuras pós-5G