ARMONIA: A Unified Access and Metro Network Architecture

We present a self-configured and unified access and metro network architecture, named ARMONIA. The ARMONIA network monitors its status, and dynamically (re-)optimizes its configuration. ARMONIA leverages software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) technologies. These technologies enable the access and metro convergence and the joint and efficient control of the optical and the IP equipment used in these different network segments. Network monitoring information is collected and analyzed utilizing machine learning and big data analytics methods. Dynamic algorithms then decide how to adapt and dynamically optimize the unified network. The ARMONIA network enables unprecedented resource efficiency and provides advanced virtualization services, reducing the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) and lowering the barriers for the introduction of new services. We demonstrate the benefits of the ARMONIA network in the context of dynamic resource provisioning of network slices. We observe significant spectrum and equipment savings when compared to static overprovisioning

Demand Response as a Service: Clearing Multiple Distribution-Level Markets

The uncertain and non-dispatchable nature of renewable energy sources renders Demand Response (DR) a critical component of modern electricity distribution systems. Demand Response (DR) service provision takes place via aggregators and special distribution-level markets (e.g., flexibility markets), where small, distributed DR resources, such as building energy management systems, electric vehicle charging stations, micro-generation and storage, connected to the low-voltage distribution grid, offer DR services. In such systems, energy balancing (and thus, also DR decisions) have to be made close to real-time. Thus, market clearing algorithms for DR service provision must fulfill several requirements related to the efficiency of their operation. More specifically, a DR market clearing algorithm needs to be optimal in terms of cost-efficiency, scalable in terms of number of assets and locations, and able to satisfy real-time constraints. In order to cope with these challenges, this paper presents a distributed DR market clearing algorithm based on Lagrangian decomposition, combined with an optimal cloud resource allocation algorithm for assigning the required computation power. A heuristic algorithm is also presented, able to achieve a near-optimal solution, within negligible computational time. Simulations, performed on a testbed, demonstrate the computational burden introduced by various DR models, as well as the heuristic algorithm's near-optimal performance. The resource allocation algorithm is able to service multiple DR requests (e.g. in multiple distribution networks), and minimize the cost of computational resources while respecting the execution time constraints of each request. This enables third parties to offer cost-efficient and competitive DR operation as a service

Machine Learning-Based, Networking and Computing Infrastructure Resource Management

Part 1: 6th Workshop on “5G – Putting Intelligence to the Network Edge” (5G-PINE 2021)International audience5G mobile networks will be soon available to handle all types of applications and to provide service to massive numbers of users. In this complex and dynamic network ecosystem, end-to-end performance analysis and optimization will be key features in order to effectively manage the diverse requirements imposed by multiple vertical industries over the same shared infrastructure. To enable such a vision, the MARSAL project [1] targets the development and evaluation of a complete framework for the management and orchestration of network resources in 5G and beyond by utilizing a converged optical-wireless network infrastructure in the access and fronthaul/midhaul segments. At the network design domain, MARSAL targets the development of novel cell-free-based solutions. Namely, scalable and cost-efficient wireless access points deployment will be achieved by exploiting the distributed cell-free concept combined with wireless and wired serial fronthaul approaches. We will target the inclusion of these innovative functionalities in the O-RAN project. In parallel, in the fronthaul/midhaul segments MARSAL aims to radically increase the flexibility of optical access architectures for Beyond-5G cell site connectivity via different levels of fixed-mobile convergence. In the network and service management domain, the design philosophy of MARSAL is to provide a comprehensive framework for the management of the entire set of communication and computational network resources by exploiting novel ML-based algorithms of both edge and midhaul data centers, by incorporating the Virtual Elastic Data Centers/Infrastructures paradigm. Finally, at the network security domain, MARSAL aims to introduce mechanisms that provide privacy and security to application workload and data, targeting to allow applications and users to maintain control over their data when relying on the deployed shared infrastructures, while AI and Blockchain technologies will be developed in order to guarantee a secured multi-tenant slicing environment