Software-defined open architecture for front- and backhaul in 5G mobile networks

New software-defined open network concepts are proposed in this paper to enable an efficient implementation of front- and backhaul solutions for future 5G mobile networks. Main requirements for 5G front- and backhaul are derived and then related to the open network architecture enabling multiple operators to share the same physical infrastructure. The value of software-defined networking (SDN) is particularly outlined therefore. For the use of SDN in the fronthaul, CPRI over Ethernet (CoE) is proposed as a new transport protocol. In the backhaul, distributed security can be implemented using SDN where direct links are confined inside the access domain, as opposed to the current centralized security solution including also the transport domain. In this way, low latency can be realized e.g. for machine-type communications. As the benefits for fixed-mobile convergence are evident, SDN should be enabled increasingly in the access domain. © 2014 IEEE

A Converged Evolved Ethernet Fronthaul for the 5G Era

We assess the performance of two distinct functional splits based on latency/latency variation and mapping efficiency, both individually and in unison. By considering hardware-offloading possibilities for a low-layer split (especially a pre-resource mapper split) using an Option-6 software-based LTE split as an example, we show how data rate, Ethernet frame size and in general, traffic generation characteristics will be very important aspects in the design of the future Ethernet mapping function. Then, an integrated Ethernet fronthaul with legacy and new/evolved split functionality, operating at 100 Gb/s link rate is presented with state-of-the art sub-100 ns latency variation for a timing-protocol flow. This is achieved through the application of a gap-filling aggregator, used for the first time in such a mobile fronthaul application

Review: optical fiber sensors for civil engineering applications

Optical fiber sensor (OFS) technologies have developed rapidly over the last few decades, and various types of OFS have found practical applications in the field of civil engineering. In this paper, which is resulting from the work of the RILEM technical committee “Optical fiber sensors for civil engineering applications”, different kinds of sensing techniques, including change of light intensity, interferometry, fiber Bragg grating, adsorption measurement and distributed sensing, are briefly reviewed to introduce the basic sensing principles. Then, the applications of OFS in highway structures, building structures, geotechnical structures, pipelines as well as cables monitoring are described, with focus on sensor design, installation technique and sensor performance. It is believed that the State-of-the-Art review is helpful to engineers considering the use of OFS in their projects, and can facilitate the wider application of OFS technologies in construction industry

Next-Generation Optical Fronthaul in the iCirrus Project

We discuss next-generation fronthaul solutions for 5G and legacy radio access networks. Architectures, findings and experimental results from recent lab and field trial activities are reported

Testbed Verification of New Fronthaul Technology for 5G Systems

The fronthaul for 5th generation mobile systems (and beyond) has evolved with new splits for the radio access network functions defined, and the transport for these split interfaces having very different requirements. Testing of the transport for such split interfaces is reported, and it is shown that an Ethernet fronthaul transport network, which is capable of bringing efficiency gains through statistical multiplexing, can meet stringent latency and latency variation requirements, assuming buffering and playout of the radio waveforms and that timing/synchronization signals are prioritized. An aggregation technique for a 100 Gb/s Ethernet trunk which provides for such timing signals is demonstrated. Real-time monitoring of the Ethernet fronthaul for software-defined networking control and performance optimization is also shown

CD8+ T cells specific for an immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid epitope display high naive precursor frequency and TCR promiscuity

To better understand primary and recall T cell responses during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is important to examine unmanipulated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cells. By using peptide-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tetramers for direct ex vivo analysis, we characterized CD8+ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in COVID-19 patients and unexposed individuals. Unlike CD8+ T cells directed toward subdominant epitopes (B7/N257, A2/S269, and A24/S1,208) CD8+ T cells specific for the immunodominant B7/N105 epitope were detected at high frequencies in pre-pandemic samples and at increased frequencies during acute COVID-19 and convalescence. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells in pre-pandemic samples from children, adults, and elderly individuals predominantly displayed a naive phenotype, indicating a lack of previous cross-reactive exposures. T cell receptor (TCR) analyses revealed diverse TCRαβ repertoires and promiscuous αβ-TCR pairing within B7/N105+CD8+ T cells. Our study demonstrates high naive precursor frequency and TCRαβ diversity within immunodominant B7/N105-specific CD8+ T cells and provides insight into SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell origins and subsequent responses

Protected Ethernet Rings for Optical Access Networks

In this paper we propose a centralized link layer architecture for providing low latency fault recovery for optical access rings. This architecture exploits the naturally uneven breakdown of network management responsibilities between the components of an access ring. Important administrative operations like ring status checking, fault detection and recovery are aggregated at the HUB component located in the Central Office of the access network. Consequently, when compared with a standardized Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol implementation, the design of the proposed architecture benefits from a simplified link layer design of the Optical Network Unit, in addition to a significantly reduced fault recovery delay in the ring. We also present an Ethernet-based protocol that realizes our centralized protection model. The design principle of this protocol, responsible for the message passing required to react to topology changes in the network, is simple enough to allow quick reaction times, and to support QoS-aware prioritization of network traffic. The performance of the proposed architecture is evaluated using analytical and simulative means, and the performance aspects of the ring protocol relevant to network protection are compared with those provided by the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol

POLYDER: Octave function to differentiate polynomial

I have added support for polynomial products and quotients to polyder. It should work like the matlab function now. polyder doesn't call polyderiv anymore, but it includes the polyderiv code for polynoms, so you can replace the old script with the new one.

COORDINATES: Octave functions for coordinate transformations

I have written a bunch of octave scripts, which might be worth to be included in octave. I would like to start with the coordinate transformation scripts. cart2pol - cartesian to polar or cylindrical pol2cart - polar or cylindrical to cartesian cart2sph - cartesian to spherical sph2cart - spherical to cartesian hsv2rgb - converts a HSV color value into a RGB value rgb2hsv - converts a RGB color value into a HSV value The scripts should be matlab compatible.