Energy-Efficient Softwarized Networks: A Survey

With the dynamic demands and stringent requirements of various applications, networks need to be high-performance, scalable, and adaptive to changes. Researchers and industries view network softwarization as the best enabler for the evolution of networking to tackle current and prospective challenges. Network softwarization must provide programmability and flexibility to network infrastructures and allow agile management, along with higher control for operators. While satisfying the demands and requirements of network services, energy cannot be overlooked, considering the effects on the sustainability of the environment and business. This paper discusses energy efficiency in modern and future networks with three network softwarization technologies: SDN, NFV, and NS, introduced in an energy-oriented context. With that framework in mind, we review the literature based on network scenarios, control/MANO layers, and energy-efficiency strategies. Following that, we compare the references regarding approach, evaluation method, criterion, and metric attributes to demonstrate the state-of-the-art. Last, we analyze the classified literature, summarize lessons learned, and present ten essential concerns to open discussions about future research opportunities on energy-efficient softwarized networks.Comment: Accepted draft for publication in TNSM with minor updates and editin

Improved Self-certified Partially Blind Signature Scheme

Blind signature allows one user to get a signature without giving the signer any information about the actual message or the resulting signature. In this paper, we aim to improve the recently proposed Lin et al.’s Self-certified Partially Blind Signature Scheme[1] in order to withstand the security flaw in their scheme. The security of the improved scheme is enhanced in the blind signing phase of the scheme. The analysis shows that the proposed scheme resolves security problem in Lin et al.’s scheme and also meets the aspects of security features needed by a partial blind signature