Integrating network function virtualization with SDR and SDN for 4G/5G networks

Abstract

obile wireless traffic has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, driven largely by the vast application of mobile devices. As application scenarios extended from traditional real-time voice communication to social networks, entertainment, and e-commerce, the number of devices and data rates keep growing exponentially. However, a broad consensus anticipates that the 4G mobile networks will not come close to meeting the demands that networks will face by 2020. Since the wireless link efficiency is approaching fundamental limits, future improvements in the capacity of wireless communication systems can be alternatively achieved by innovation and optimization in network schemes and infrastructures.The 4G/5G wireless networks have been characterized by heterogeneity due to mixed utilization of highly diversified access technologies. Therefore, network operators propose specific requirements to equipment providers for cost-efficient and energy-saving solutions. We introduce some new paradigms to address the above issues, including network function virtualization (NFV), software defined radio (SDR), and software defined network (SDN).First, NFV employs standard IT virtualization technology to consolidate multiple network equipment types onto industry standard high volume servers, switches, and storage devices. In this way, operators can architect networks toward deploying network services onto standard devices [1]. NFV enables delivering network functions without installing hardware equipment for every new service, making possible less investment in network equipment (CAPEX) and less expenditure on network management and operation (OPEX). It enbles the standard network appliance to migrate from one hardware platform to another.Second, SDR aims at implementing many modes by simply reconfiguring the radio with different software, as the name implies. The software may be pre-loaded in the device or downloaded through fixed data links or over-the-air (OTA). SDR has been successfully used in military communication systems and recently introduced to the consumer electronics market [2]. It plays a vital role in military applications with requirements of channel switching and modulation changing. Nowadays, the programmable SDR solution has become attractive as it supports rapid development of wireless standards and a short time to market.Third, SDN allows telecom software developers to control network resources in the same simple way as ordinary computing resources [3]. In order to support the programmability of the network by external applications, SDN addresses the separation of the control plane from the data plane with open interfaces between the centralized controller and packet forwarding devices. On one hand, the software-based controller functions as the control plane and is logically regarded as the core of the network intelligence; on the other hand, the network devices become simple packet forwarding devices representing the data plane.We study the possibility of integrating NFV with SDR/SDN for 4G/5G mo...

The wireless control plane: An overview and directions for future research

“…Potential approach: Although there are noticeable efforts to integrate SDN with SDR for 5G and beyond, such as Ramirez-Perez and Ramos (2016); Sun et al (2015), they have tackled the problem from only the reconfiguration and virtualization perspectives Ramirez-Perez and Ramos (2016) Ali- Ahmad et al (2013). In the proposed D-WCP architecture, the wireless controller could achieve this convergence through its softradio API, as shown in Figure 6.…”

Technology pillars in the architecture of future 5G mobile networks: NFV, MEC and SDN

“…Furthermore, SDN helps VNFs interconnection and NS organization. To fully realize SDN-enabled NFV architectures, the main integration approach is to include the SDN controller in the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and let the NVF Orchestrator (NFVO) to orchestrate/manage the SDN operation [37] [38]. In a service chain procedure, the NVFO first tries to logically combine different NSs, considering their interdependencies.…”

Development of stratified approach to software defined networks simulation

“…Moreover, SDN is considered as a solution for Wireless Sensor Networks challenges [13]. The opportunities for SDN technology integration with existing 4G/5G mobile networks have also been discussed [14].…”