Context-Awareness Enhances 5G Multi-Access Edge Computing Reliability

The fifth generation (5G) mobile telecommunication network is expected to support Multi- Access Edge Computing (MEC), which intends to distribute computation tasks and services from the central cloud to the edge clouds. Towards ultra-responsive, ultra-reliable and ultra-low-latency MEC services, the current mobile network security architecture should enable a more decentralized approach for authentication and authorization processes. This paper proposes a novel decentralized authentication architecture that supports flexible and low-cost local authentication with the awareness of context information of network elements such as user equipment and virtual network functions. Based on a Markov model for backhaul link quality, as well as a random walk mobility model with mixed mobility classes and traffic scenarios, numerical simulations have demonstrated that the proposed approach is able to achieve a flexible balance between the network operating cost and the MEC reliability.Comment: Accepted by IEEE Access on Feb. 02, 201

An efficient model for mobile network slice embedding under resource uncertainty

The fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks will support several new use cases, like the Internet of Things (IoT), massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) and Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) as well as significant improvements of the conventional Mobile Broadband (MBB) use case. End-to-end network slicing is a key-feature of 5G since it allows to share and at the same time isolate resources between several different use cases as well as between tenants by providing logical network. The virtual separation of the network slices on a common end-to-end mobile network infrastructure enables an efficient usage of the underlying network resources and provides means for security and safety related isolation of the defined logical networks. A much-discussed challenge is the reuse or overbooking of resources guaranteed by contract. However, there is a consensus that over-provisioning of mobile communication bands is economically infeasible and a certain risk of network overload is acceptable for the majority of the 5G use cases. In this paper, an efficient model for mobile network slice embedding is presented which enables an informed decision on network slice admission. This is based on the guaranteed end-to-end mobile network resources that have to be provided on the one hand and the capacities and capabilities of the underlying network infrastructure on the other hand. The network slice embedding problem is solved in form of a Mixed Integer Linear Program with an uncertainty-aware objective function. Subsequently, the confidence in the availability of each resource is analyzed

A unified service-based capability exposure framework for closed-loop network automation

The ongoing quest for the tight integration of network operation and the network service provisioning initiated with the introduction of 5G often clashes with the capacity of current network architectures to provide means for such integration. Owing to the traditional design of mobile networks, which barely required a tight interaction, network elements offer capabilities for their continuous optimization just within their domain (eg, access, or core), allowing for a "silo-style" automation that falls short when aiming at closed-loop automation that embraces all the actors involved in the network, from network functions up to the service-provider network functions. To this end, in this article, we make the case for the network-wide capability exposure framework for closed-loop automation by (i) defining the different entities that shall expose capabilities, and (ii) discussing why the state of the art solutions are not enough to support this vision. Our proposed architecture, which relies on registration and discovery, and exposure functions, allows for enhanced use cases that are currently not possible with state of the art solution. We prove the feasibility of our solution by implementing it in a real-world testbed, employing Artificial Intelligence algorithms to close the loop for the management of the radio access network.Part of this work was performed in the context of the H2020 5G-MoNArch project (grant agreement no. 761445). The work of Marco Gramaglia has been partially funded by the H2020 5G-TOURS project (grant agreement no. 856950), and by the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation and the European Union-NextGenerationEU through the UNICO 5G I+D projects 6G-CLARION-NFD, 6G-CLARION-OR, 6G-CLARION-SI, and 6G-CLARION-O

An adaptive 5G multiservice and multitenant radio access network architecture

This article provides an overview on objectives and first results of the Horizon 2020 project 5G NOvel Radio Multiservice adaptive network Architecture (5GNORMA). With 5G NORMA, leading players in the mobile ecosystem aim to underpin Europe's leadership position in 5G. The key objective of 5G NORMA is to develop a conceptually novel, adaptive and future-proof 5G mobile network architecture. This architecture will allow for adapting the network to a wide range of service specific requirements, resulting in novel service-aware and context-aware end-to-end function chaining. The technical approach is based on an innovative concept of adaptive (de)composition and allocation of mobile network functions based on end-user requirements and infrastructure capabilities. At the same time, cost savings and faster time to market are to be expected by joint deployment of logically separated multiservice and multitenant networks on common hardware and other physical resources making use of traffic multiplexing gains. In this context architectural enablers such as network function virtualization and software-defined mobile networking will play a key role for introducing the needed flexible resource assignment to logical networks and specific virtual network functions.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project 5G NORMA

Flexible connectivity and QoE/QoS management for 5G networks: the 5G NORMA view

Proceeding of: 2016 IEEE International Conference on Communications Workshops (ICC)The goal envisioned by 5G NORMA is to develop a novel, adaptive and future-proof 5G mobile network architecture. In order to fulfill these requirements, 5G NORMA envisions an extremely flexible architecture to be deployed in a multi-tier distributed data-center. In this paper we focus on the novel mobility management schemes, QoE/QoS, Control and Orchestration mechanisms that are being developed in 5G NORMA. These modules, that follow the software-defined principle, jointly optimize core and access functions. The final result is a modular architecture that adapts to the requirements of very heterogeneous services, while allowing multiple tenants to share network resources among them, providing hence the flexible connectivity needed by future 5G Networks.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project 5G NORMA

A future-proof architecture for management and orchestration of multi-domain NextGen networks

The novel network slicing paradigm represents an effective turning point to operate future wireless networks. Available networking and computational resources may be shared across different (instantiations of) services tailored onto specific vertical needs, envisioned as the main infrastructure tenants. While such customization enables meeting advanced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) introduced by upcoming 5G networks, advanced multi-tenancy approaches help to abate the cost of deploying and operating the network. However, the network slicing implementation requires a number of non-trivial practical considerations, including e.g. (i) how resource sharing operations are actually implemented, (ii) how involved parties establish the corresponding agreement to instantiate, operate and terminate such a sharing or, (iii) the design of functional modules and interfaces supporting these operations. In this paper, we present a novel framework that unveils proper answers to the above design challenges. While existing initiatives are typically limited to single-domain and single-owner scenarios, our framework overcomes these limitations by enlarging the administrative scope of the network deployments fostering different providers to collaborate so as to facilitate a larger set of resources even spread across multiple domains. Numerical evaluations confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the presented solution.This work was supported in part by the 5G-MoNArch Project, in part by the Phase II of the 5th Generation Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) Program, in part by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 Framework Program under Grant 761445, in part by the 5G-MoNArch Project builds on the results of the 5G-PPP Phase I Project 5G-NORMA, and in part by the European Union Horizon 2020 Project 5G-CARMEN under Grant 825012. The work of UC3M has also received funding from the Horizon 2020 Programme under Grant 815074 - 5G EVE.Publicad

Mobile network architecture evolution toward 5G

As a chain is as strong as its weakest element, so are the efficiency, flexibility, and robustness of a mobile network, which relies on a range of different functional elements and mechanisms. Indeed, the mobile network architecture needs particular attention when discussing the evolution of 3GPP EPS because it is the architecture that integrates the many different future technologies into one mobile network. This article discusses 3GPP EPS mobile network evolution as a whole, analyzing specific architecture properties that are critical in future 3GPP EPS releases. In particular, this article discusses the evolution toward a "network of functions," network slicing, and software-defined mobile network control, management, and orchestration. Furthermore, the roadmap for the future evolution of 3GPP EPS and its technology components is detailed and relevant standards defining organizations are listed.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project 5G NORMA

Overall 5G-MoNArch architecture and implications for resource elasticity

Proceeding of: 2018 European Conference on Networks and Communications (EuCNC), June 18-21, Ljubljana, SloveniaThe fifth generation (5G) of mobile and wireless communications networks aims at addressing a diverse set of use cases, services, and applications with a particular focus on enabling new business cases via network slicing. The development of 5G has thus advanced quickly with research projects and standardization efforts resulting in the 5G baseline architecture. Nevertheless, for the realization of native end-to-end (E2E) network slicing, further features and optimizations shall still be introduced. In this paper, essential building blocks and design principles of the 5G architecture will be discussed capitalizing on the innovations that are being developed in the 5G-MoNArch project. Furthermore, building on the concept of resource elasticity introduced by 5G-MoNArch and briefly resummarized in this paper, an elasticity functional architecture is presented where the architectural implications required for each of the three dimensions of elasticity are described, namely computational, orchestration-driven, and slice-aware elasticity.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020 project 5G-MoNArch co-funded by the EU

Network slicing to enable scalability and flexibility in 5G mobile networks

We argue for network slicing as an efficient solution that addresses the diverse requirements of 5G mobile networks, thus provid-ing the necessary flexibility and scalability associated with future network implementations. We elaborate on the challenges that emerge when we design 5G networks based on network slicing. We focus on the architectural aspects associated with the coexistence of dedicated as well as shared slices in the network. In particular, we analyze the realization options of a flexible radio access network with focus on network slicing and their impact on the design of 5G mobile networks. In addition to the technical study, this paper provides an investigation of the revenue potential of network slicing, where the applications that originate from such concept and the profit capabilities from the network operator's perspective are put forward.This work has been performed in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project 5G NORMA