Optimal management of reusable functional blocks in 5G superfluid networks

Abstract

Summary We consider the problem of managing a 5G network composed of virtualized entities, called reusable functional blocks (RFBs), as proposed by the Horizon 2020 SUPERFLUIDITY project. The RFBs are used to decompose network functions and services and are deployed on top of physical nodes, in order to realize the 5G functionalities. After formally modeling the RFBs in a 5G network, as well as the physical nodes hosting them, we formulate the problem of managing the 5G network through the RFBs, in order to satisfy different key performance indicators to users. In particular, we focus either on the maximization of the amount of downlink throughput sent to users or on the minimization of the number of powered‐on physical nodes. We then consider different scenarios to evaluate the proposed formulations. Our results show that, when an RFB‐based approach is put into place, a high level of flexibility and dynamicity is achieved. In particular, the RFBs can be shared, moved, and rearranged based on the network conditions. As a result, the downlink throughput can be extremely high, ie, more than 150 Mbps per user on average when the throughput maximization is pursued and more than 100 Mbps on average when the goal is the minimization of the number of powered‐on physical nodes.

Next generation of microservices for the 5G Service‐Based Architecture

“…A single physical node can host several virtual machines. 11,38 There are clear advantages with this model, since the life cycle of an NF is easily maintained with the management of virtual machines in traditional infrastructures such as OpenStack and orchestrated using Orchestration frameworks 39 like ONAP and OSM. 40 On the other end, practices such as DevOps 41 introduce agile approaches which that enable automation in early phases of development to promote the release of new functionalities within assured quality and collaboration between different actors.…”

“…Along with the technical specifications of 5G, several authors present specific proposals to enable the SBA in 5G networks. Chiaraviglio et al 38 propose the use of reusable functional blocks (RFBs) to decompose the NFs and the services that are deployed on top of physical nodes. Within such approach, the functional blocks can run anywhere, or can be migrated transparently from one physical node to another.…”

“…A common deployment mode is to deploy the NF as Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) running in virtual machines, 7 where a 1:1 mapping exists between a NF and a virtual machine. A single physical node can host several virtual machines 11,38 . There are clear advantages with this model, since the life cycle of an NF is easily maintained with the management of virtual machines in traditional infrastructures such as OpenStack and orchestrated using Orchestration frameworks 39 like ONAP and OSM 40 .…”

A Hybrid PAPR Reduction Method Based on SLM and Multi-Data Block PTS for FBMC/OQAM Systems

“…Multicarrier technology is now widely used in various wireless communication systems [1][2][3]. Recently, many researchers have given a great deal of attention to the filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) employing the offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) technique [4][5][6], since it is considered as a potential alternative to the best-known orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme for 5G wireless communication systems [7][8][9][10]. FBMC/OQAM, without inserting cyclic prefix, can overcome the drawbacks of OFDM.…”