Probabilistic multi-RAT performance abstractions

Abstract

Development towards 5G has introduced difficult challenges in effectively managing and operating heterogeneous infrastructures under highly varying network conditions. Enabling, for example, unified coordination and management of radio resources across coexisting, multiple radio access technologies (multi-RAT), require efficient representation using high-level abstractions of the radio network performance and state. Without such abstractions, users and networks cannot harvest the full potential of increased resource density and connectivity options resulting in failure to meet the ambitions of 5G. We present a generic probabilistic approach for unified estimation of performance variability based on attainable throughput of UDP traffic in multi-RATs, and evaluate the applicability in an interface selection control case (involving WiFi and LTE) based on obtaining probabilistic user performance guarantees. From simulations we observe that both users and operators can significantly benefit from this improved service availability at low network cost. Initial results indicate 1) 116% fewer performance violations and 2) 20% fewer performance violations with a reduction by 35 times in the number of handovers, compared to naive and state-of-the-art baselines, respectively.