Towards User-Centric Operation in 5G Networks

© 2016 Monserrat et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.There are three pillars that characterize the new 5G revolution, namely, the use of heterogeneous wireless access technologies conforming an ultra-dense network, the software-driven flexibility of this network, and the simplified and user-centric operation and management of the system. This next-generation network operation and management shall be based on the usage of Big Data Analytics techniques to monitor the end-user quality of experience through direct measures of the network. This paper describes the Astellia approach towards this network revolution and presents some results on the performance of quality estimation techniques in current cellular networks. Thanks to the use of this approach, operators may fill the gap of knowledge between network key performance indicators and user experience. This way, they can operate in a proactive manner and have actual measurements of the users' experience, which leads to a fairer judgement of the users' complaints.The authors would like to thank the funding received from the Ministerio de Industria, Energia y Turismo TSI-100102-2013-106 funds.Monserrat Del Río, JF.; Alepuz Benaches, I.; Cabrejas Peñuelas, J.; Osa Ginés, V.; López Bayo, J.; García-Zarza, R.; Domenech-Benlloch, MJ.... (2016). Towards User-Centric Operation in 5G Networks. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking. 2016(6):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-015-0506-zS1720166J Monserrat et al., Rethinking the mobile and wireless network architecture: the METIS research into 5G, in European Conference on Networks and Communications (EuCNC), 2014, pp. 1–55G-PPP, The 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership: the next generation of communication networks and services, 2015. Available at http://5g-ppp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/5G-Vision-Brochure-v1.pdfJF Monserrat, M Fallgren (eds.), Report on simulation results and evaluations, 2015. ICT-317669 METIS Deliverable 6.5Z Yingxiao, Z Ying Jun, User-centric virtual cell design for Cloud Radio Access Networks, in IEEE Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), 2014, pp. 249–253JF Monserrat, G Mange, V Braun, H Tullberg, G Zimmermann, Ö Bulakci, METIS research advances towards the 5G mobile and wireless system definition. EURASIP. J. Wirel. Commun. Netw. 2015, 53 (2015)F Boccardi, RW Heath, A Lozano, TL Marzetta, P Popovski, Five disruptive technology directions for 5G. IEEE. Commun. Mag. 52(2), 74–80 (2014)P Agyapong, M Iwamura, D Staehle, W Kiess, A Benjebbour, Design considerations for a 5G network architecture. IEEE. Commun. Mag. 52(11), 65–75 (2014)Nokia Siemens Networks, Acquisition and retention white paper, 2013. http://networks.nokia.com/sites/default/files/document/acquisition___retention_white_paper.pdfDZ Yazti, S Krishnaswamy, Mobile big data analytics: research, practice, and opportunities, in IEEE 15th International Conference on Mobile Data Management (MDM), 2014R Kreher, UMTS performance measurement: a practical guide to KPIs for the UTRAN environment (Wiley, Chichester, 2006)S Mehrotra, On the implementation of a primal-dual interior point method. SIAM. J. Optim. 2, 575–601 (1992)V Osa, J Matamales, J Monserrat, J Lopez, Localization in wireless networks: the potential of triangulation techniques. Wirel. Pers. Commun. 68(4), 1525–1538 (2013

AL-FEC for streaming services in LTE E-MBMS

3rd Generation Partnership Project specified Application Layer - Forward Error Correction (AL-FEC) to be used for Enhanced Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (E-MBMS) in Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. Specifically, Raptor coding is applied to both streaming and file delivery services. This article focuses on streaming services and investigates the optimum configuration of the AL-FEC mechanism depending on the signal-to-interference plus noise power ratio conditions. These configurations are compared with a scenario without an application layer protection to obtain the potential gain that can be achieved by means of AL-FEC. This article also studies the multiplexing of services within the AL-FEC time interleaving. These analyses were performed using a proprietary system level simulator and assuming both pedestrian and vehicular users. Different quality criterions were used to ensure the completeness of the study. Results show the significant benefit of using AL-FEC in E-MBMS in terms of coverage and service quality.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science under the project TEC2011-27723-C02-02.Calabuig Gaspar, J.; Monserrat Del Río, JF.; Gozálvez Serrano, D.; Gómez Barquero, D. (2013). AL-FEC for streaming services in LTE E-MBMS. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking. 2013(73):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1687-1499-2013-73S1122013733GPP TS 25.346 V6.4.0, Introduction of the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in the Radio Access Network (RAN); Stage 2, 2005.Deng H, Tao X, Lu J: Qos-aware resource allocation for mixed multicast and unicast traffic in OFDMA networks. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking 2012, 2012(195):1-10. 10.1186/1687-1499-2012-1953GPP TS 26.346 V9.5.0, Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS); Protocols and codecs, 2011.Shokrollahi A: Raptor codes. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory 2006, 52(6):2251-2567. 10.1109/TIT.2006.8743903GPP TS 25.346 V7.5.0, Introduction of the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) in the Radio Access Network (RAN); Stage 2, 2007.Martín-Sacristán D, Monserrat JF, Cabrejas J, Calabuig D, Garrigas S, Cardona N: On the way towards fourth-generation mobile: 3GPP LTE and LTE-advanced. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking 2009, 1-10. 10.1155/2009/3540893GPP TS 36.211 V.8.5.0, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical Channels and Modulation, 2008.3GPP TS 36.300 V9.1.0, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); Overall description, 2009.Monserrat JF, Calabuig J, Fernandez-Aguilella A, Gomez-Barquero D: Joint delivery of unicast and E-MBMS services in LTE networks. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting. 2012, 58(2):157-167. 10.1109/TBC.2012.2191030Alexiou A, Bouras C, Kokkinos V, Papazois A, Tsichritzis G: Wireless Multi-Access Environments and Quality of Service Provisioning: Solutions and Application, Multimedia broadcasting in LTE networks. Edited by: Muntean GM, Trestian R. Hershey, PA: IGI Global; 2012:269-289.Wang N, Zhang Z: The impact of application layer Raptor FEC on the coverage of MBMS. Radio and Wireless Symposium, 2008 IEEE 2008, 223-226. 10.1109/RWS.2008.4463469Gomez-Barquero D, Fernandez-Aguilella A, Cardona N: Multicast delivery of file download services in evolved 3G mobile networks with HSDPA and MBMS. IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting. 2009, 55(4):742-751. 10.1109/TBC.2009.2032800Stockhammer T, Shokrollahi A, Watson M, Luby M, Gasiba T: Handbook of Mobile Broadcasting: DVB-H, DMB, ISDB-T and Media FLO, Application layer forward error correction for mobile multimedia broadcasting. Edited by: Furhet B, Ahson S. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2008:239–-280.Afzal J, Stockhammer T, Gasiba T, Xu W: Video streaming over MBMS: a system design approach. Journal of Multimedia. 2006, 1(5):25-35.Alexiou A, Bouras C, Kokkinos V, Papazois A, Tseliou G: Cellular Networks - Positioning, Performance Analysis, Reliability, Forward error correction for reliable e-MBMS transmissions in LTE networks. Edited by: Melikov A. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech; 2011:353-374.Munaretto D, Jurca D, Widmer J: Broadcast video streaming in cellular networks: An adaptation framework for channel, video and AL-FEC rates allocation. Wireless Internet Conference (WICON), 2010 The 5th Annual ICST 2010, 1-9.Bouras C, Kanakis N, Kokkinos V, Papazois A: Application layer forward error correction for multicast streaming over LTE networks. Int. J. Commun. Syst 2012. 10.1002/dac.2321RaptorQ technical overview, Qualcomm Technical Report 2010. http://www.qualcomm.com/instella_api/asset/3cd5b620-afea-012d-72bc-12313804dc61Mladenov T, Kim K, Nooshabadi S: Forward error correction with RaptorQ Code on embedded systems. Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), 2011 IEEE 54th International Midwest Symposium 2011, 1-4. 10.1109/MWSCAS.2011.6026424Calabuig J, Monserrat JF, Martín-Sacristán D, Olmos J: Comparison of multicast/broadcast services in Long Term Evolution Advanced and IEEE 802.16m networks. Wirel. Commun. Mob. Comput. 2012. 10.1002/wcm.2229Jiang X, Zhu G, Wu W, Gao Y: Design of LTE E-MBMS Dynamic Scheduling Information. Wireless Communications Networking and Mobile Computing (WiCOM), 2010 6th International Conference on 2010, 1-5. 10.1109/WICOM.2010.56002103GPP TS 36.331 V.9.9.0, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol Specification, 2011.Alberi Morel M-L, Kerboeuf S, Sayadi B, Leprovost Y, Faucheux F: Performance Evaluation of Channel Change for DVB-SH Streaming Services. Communications (ICC), 2010 IEEE International Conference on 2010, 1-6. 10.1109/ICC.2010.5502523WINNER + IMT-Advanced Calibration: Guidelines, software and results. 2009. http://projects.celtic-initiative.org/winner+/WINNER+%20Evaluation%20Group.htmlBrueninghaus K, Astely D, Salzer T, Visuri S, Alexiou A, Karger S, Seraji GA: Link performance models for system level simulations of broadband radio access systems, in Proceedings of 16th IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC). Berlin, Germany 2005, 4: 2306-2311. 10.1109/PIMRC.2005.1651855ITU-R M.2135, Guidelines for evaluation of radio interface technologies for IMT-Advanced. 2008. http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-M.2135-2008-PDF-E.pdf3GPP TS 36.101 V.9.10.0, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception. 2011.Rong L, Ben Haddada O, Elayoubi S-E: Analytical Analysis of the Coverage of a MBSFN OFDMA Network," Global Telecommunications Conference . IEEE GLOBECOM 2008. IEEE 2008, 1-5. 10.1109/GLOCOM.2008.ECP.4593GPP TSG-SA WG4 S4-100861, Relation between MBSFN area and intended MBMS service reception area, 2010.3GPP TR 36.213 V.9.3.0, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical layer procedures, 2010

Clinical Phenotypes and Prognosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Caused by Truncating Variants in the TTN Gene

BACKGROUND: Truncating variants in the TTN gene (TTNtv) are the commonest cause of heritable dilated cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to study the phenotypes and outcomes of TTNtv carriers. METHODS: Five hundred thirty-seven individuals (61% men; 317 probands) with TTNtv were recruited in 14 centers (372 [69%] with baseline left ventricular systolic dysfunction [LVSD]). Baseline and longitudinal clinical data were obtained. The primary end point was a composite of malignant ventricular arrhythmia and end-stage heart failure. The secondary end point was left ventricular reverse remodeling (left ventricular ejection fraction increase by ≥10% or normalization to ≥50%). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 49 (18-105) months. Men developed LVSD more frequently and earlier than women (45±14 versus 49±16 years, respectively; P=0.04). By final evaluation, 31%, 45%, and 56% had atrial fibrillation, frequent ventricular ectopy, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, respectively. Seventy-six (14.2%) individuals reached the primary end point (52 [68%] end-stage heart failure events, 24 [32%] malignant ventricular arrhythmia events). Malignant ventricular arrhythmia end points most commonly occurred in patients with severe LVSD. Male sex (hazard ratio, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.04-3.44]; P=0.04) and left ventricular ejection fraction (per 10% decrement from left ventricular ejection fraction, 50%; hazard ratio, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.30-2.04]; P<0.001) were independent predictors of the primary end point. Two hundred seven of 300 (69%) patients with LVSD had evidence of left ventricular reverse remodeling. In a subgroup of 29 of 74 (39%) patients with initial left ventricular reverse remodeling, there was a subsequent left ventricular ejection fraction decrement. TTNtv location was not associated with statistically significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics, left ventricular reverse remodeling, or outcomes on multivariable analysis (P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: TTNtv is characterized by frequent arrhythmia, but malignant ventricular arrhythmias are most commonly associated with severe LVSD. Male sex and LVSD are independent predictors of outcomes. Mutation location does not impact clinical phenotype or outcomes

Echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: usefulness of old and new techniques in the diagnosis and pathophysiological assessment

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common inherited cardiomyopathy. The identification of patients with HCM is sometimes still a challenge. Moreover, the pathophysiology of the disease is complex because of left ventricular hyper-contractile state, diastolic dysfunction, ischemia and obstruction which can be coexistent in the same patient. In this review, we discuss the current and emerging echocardiographic methodology that can help physicians in the correct diagnostic and pathophysiological assessment of patients with HCM

Formin Homology 2 Domain Containing 3 (FHOD3) Is a Genetic Basis for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: The genetic cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy remains unexplained in a substantial proportion of cases. Formin homology 2 domain containing 3 (FHOD3) may have a role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy but has not been implicated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the relation between FHOD3 mutations and the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: FHOD3 was sequenced by massive parallel sequencing in 3,189 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy unrelated probands and 2,777 patients with no evidence of cardiomyopathy (disease control subjects). The authors evaluated protein-altering candidate variants in FHOD3 for cosegregation, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. RESULTS: The authors identified 94 candidate variants in 132 probands. The variants' frequencies were significantly higher in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (74 of 3,189 [2.32%]) than in disease control subjects (18 of 2,777 [0.65%]; p < 0.001) or in the gnomAD database (1,049 of 138,606 [0.76%]; p < 0.001). FHOD3 mutations cosegregated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 17 families, with a combined logarithm of the odds score of 7.92, indicative of very strong segregation. One-half of the disease-causing variants were clustered in a small conserved coiled-coil domain (amino acids 622 to 655); odds ratio for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was 21.8 versus disease control subjects (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 37.9; p < 0.001) and 14.1 against gnomAD (95% confidence interval: 6.9 to 28.7; p < 0.001). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients carrying (likely) pathogenic mutations in FHOD3 (n = 70) were diagnosed after age 30 years (mean 46.1 ± 18.7 years), and two-thirds (66%) were males. Of the patients, 82% had asymmetric septal hypertrophy (mean 18.8 ± 5 mm); left ventricular ejection fraction <50% was present in 14% and hypertrabeculation in 16%. Events were rare before age 30 years, with an annual cardiovascular death incidence of 1% during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: FHOD3 is a novel disease gene in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, accounting for approximately 1% to 2% of cases. The phenotype and the rate of cardiovascular events are similar to those reported in unselected cohorts. The FHOD3 gene should be routinely included in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy genetic testing panels

Evaluation of Underlying Switching Mechanism for Future Networks with P4 and SDN (Workshop Paper)

Software Defined Networking (SDN) was introduced with a philosophy of decoupling the control plane from the data plane which facilitates network management while ensuring programmability in order to improve performance and monitoring. OpenFlow which enabled SDN was first introduced to match twelve header fields whilst at current it matches forty one which is expected to grow exponentially. Therefore future networks must have the ability to flexibly parse packets through a common interface. Programming Protocol independent Packet Processing (P4) was introduced to achieve the aforementioned by programming the underlying switch, providing instructions and utilizing APIs to populate the forwarding tables. A P4 programmed switch will forward packets through a parser into multiple stages of match+action tables to find the destination node which is considered the most efficient mechanism for routing. This paper takes into the account the latest platform developed for service providers, Open Networking Operating System (ONOS) to deploy two environments configured in the aforementioned technologies in order to test their performance. Four case studies were drawn which were simulated in Mininet which incorporated SDN + P4 switches. A significant increase of performances were recorded when compared with the performance of cases using SDN only

Introduction to Optical Access Networks

Fixed-access networks have had a\ua0tremendous impact on society over the last few decades enabling residential broadband services and being a\ua0driver for the digitalization of society. With increasing broadband speeds, optical access technologies are playing an increasingly important role for fixed access. Growing capacity demand is driving deeper fiber penetration and fiber-to-the-home (fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)) deployments. An important category of optical access systems is passive optical networks (passive opticalnetwork (PON)s). PON systems are designed to meet the requirements of access networks, supporting cost effective deployment and high-end user peak rates. Several generations of PONs have been specified both in ITU-T and IEEE. Deployed systems have predominantly been based on time division multiplexingtime-division multiplexing (TDM)passive optical network (TDM-PON) (time-division multiplexing (TDM))-PON. Recent standardization in ITU-T have specified next-generationnext-generation(NG)-PON2 (NG)-PON2, which is the first multi-wavelength access standard. Beyond higher capacity residential access, optical access is also expected to play an increasingly important role in providing transport services for mobile networks, supporting growing data rates and denser radio access networks. This introductory chapter on optical-access reviews the evolution of fixed-access network architecture and presents a\ua0technology overview of optical access systems