DRENCH: A Semi-Distributed Resource Management Framework for NFV based Service Function Chaining

As networks grow in scale and complexity, the use of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and the ability to dynamically instantiate network function instances (NFls) allow us to scale out the network's capabilities in response to demand. At the same time, an increasing number of computing resources, deployed closer to users, as well as network equipment are now capable of performing general-purpose computation for NFV. However, NFV management in the presence of Service Function Chaining (SFC) for arbitrary topologies is a challenging task. In this work we argue for the necessity of an algorithmic resource managementframework that captures the involved tradeoffs of NFls minimum workload, load balancing, and flow path stretch. We introduce DRENCH as a low complexity NFV and flow steering management framework. In DRENCH an NFV market is considered where a centralised SDN controller acts as market orchestrator of NFV nodes. Through competition, NFV nodes make flow steering and NFl instantiation/consolidation decisions. DRENCH design enables third party NFV nodes participation while it can coexist with other NFV management solutions. DRENCH orchestrator parameterisation strikes the right balance between path stretch and NFl load balancing, resulting in significantly lower Flow Completion Times, up to 1Ox less, in some cases

On the feasibility of a user-operated mobile content distribution network

The vast majority of mobile data transfers today follow the traditional client-server model. Although in the fixed network P2P approaches have been exploited and shown to be very efficient, in the mobile domain there has been limited attempt to leverage on P2P (D2D) for large-scale content distribution (i.e., not DTN-like, point-to-point message transfers). In this paper, we explore the potential of a user-operated, smartphone-centric content distribution model for smartphone applications. In particular, we assume source nodes that are updated directly from the content provider (e.g., BBC, CNN), whenever updates are available; destination nodes are then directly updated by source nodes in a D2D manner. We leverage on sophisticated information-aware and application-centric connectivity techniques to distribute content between mobile devices in densely-populated urban environments. Our target is to investigate the feasibility of an opportunistic content distribution network in an attempt to achieve widespread distribution of heavy content (e.g., video files) to the majority of the destination nodes. We propose ubiCDN as a ubiquitous, user-operated and distributed CDN for mobile applications

Information-Centric Mobile Edge Computing for Connected Vehicle Environments: Challenges and Research Directions

Connected vehicle systems form the basis for future features of functions and applications within the automotive domain. In order to allow resource intensive services, cloud offloading and especially Mobile Edge Computing is a promising approach. In this paper, we present a detailed futuristic vehicular scenario -- Electronic Horizon -- and list the challenges. We argue that the resulting challenges are representative of many of the envisioned use-cases of Mobile Edge Computing. We then present how Information-Centric Networking in combination with Mobile Edge Computing has the potential to support such a futuristic scenario. Finally, we present research directions that could enhance the solution space

Name enhanced SDN framework for service function chaining of elastic Network functions

Middleboxes have become an integral part of Internet infrastructure, providing additional flow processing for policy control, security, and performance optimization. Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) proposes the deployment of software-based middleboxes on top of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), enabling the dynamic adjustment of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), both in terms of instance numbers and computational power. The performance of Data center and Enterprise networks depend strongly on efficient scaling of VNFs and the traffic load balance across VNF instances. To this end, we present Name enhanced SDN framework for service function chaining of elastic Network functions (NSN) that extends the Function-Centric Service Chaining (FCSC) with load balancing functionalities to achieve efficient network utilization while reducing the switch flow rules by 2-4× compared to traditional SDN approaches

Demo: Edge transcoding with name-based routing

This demonstration shows the use of ICN for tile-based panoramic video streaming. To reduce the bandwidth usage, tiles are encoded with different qualities. Tiles having a valuable impact on user QoE are fetched by the client at high quality, the others at low quality. A well-known drawback of having a video with multiple qualities is the reduction of the cache hit probability, since clients can single out different quality for a same tile. To cope this problem, we introduce transcoding functionality on edge nodes, which exploits ICN routing by name for edge processing implementation

Tile-based panoramic live video streaming on ICN

Information-centric networking (ICN) is a future Internet architecture that makes it possible to effectively use various in-network functions, such as cache storage, computing resources and multi-path. However, applications need to be carefully designed in order to fully gain the benefits of these functions. This paper presents a 360-degree panoramic live video streaming application as an example of an application design suitable for in-network functions, especially cache storage. The key ideas are content sharing by video frame tiling and load balancing by transcoding. The implementation based on the application design shows the benefits and the problems of these features. Additionally, this paper discusses problems that remain to be resolved

The benefit of information centric networking for enabling communications in disaster scenarios

Information Centric Networking (ICN) is a new paradigm where the network provides users with named content, instead of communication channels between hosts. This document outlines some research directions for Information Centric Networking with respect to applying ICN approaches for coping with natural or human- generated, large-scale disasters. We argue that ICN approaches have many benefits for enabling (or continuing) communication after a disaster has impaired a communication network. In this context, we present key research challenges and an overview of our ongoing research activities for applying Information Centric Networking to address these challenges