Mobility-Aware Hybrid Flow Rule Cache Scheme in Software-Defined Access Networks

Due to the dynamic mobility feature, the proactive flow rule cache method has become one promising solution in software-defined networking (SDN)-based access networks to reduce the number of flow rule installation procedures between the forwarding nodes and SDN controller. However, since there is a flow rule cache limit for the forwarding node, an efficient flow rule cache strategy is required. To address this challenge, this paper proposes the mobility-aware hybrid flow rule cache scheme. Based on the comparison between the delay requirement of the incoming flow and the response delay of the controller, the proposed scheme decides to install the flow rule either proactively or reactively for the target candidate forwarding nodes. To find the optimal number of proactive flow rules considering the flow rule cache limits, an integer linear programming (ILP) problem is formulated and solved using the heuristic method. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the existing schemes in terms of the flow table utilization ratio, flow rule installation delay, and flow rules hit ratio under various settings.

Open RAN—Radio Access Network Evolution, Benefits and Market Trends

Open RAN (radio access network) movement is perceived as a game changer, having robust potential to introduce shifts in mobile radio access networks towards tailor-made solutions based on the architecture decomposition. It is widely assumed that those changes will affect the approach to network deployments and supply chains of network elements and their further integration and maintenance. First deployments of O-RAN-based networks have already delivered broadband services to end users. In parallel, many proof-of-concept feature evaluations and theoretical studies are being conducted by academia and the industry. In this review, the authors describe the RAN evolution towards open models and make an attempt to indicate potential open RAN benefits and market trends.

Silicon Photonic Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Module Design (Project Report CIAN2-3-Y2)

Reports of a project “Silicon Photonics and Manufacturing” under the Thrust 2 “Subsystem Integration and Silicon Nanophotonics” of an NSF-funded Centre for Integrated Access Networks.

Toward Modular and Flexible Open RAN Implementations in 6G Networks: Traffic Steering Use Case and O-RAN xApps

The development of cellular wireless systems has entered the phase when 5G networks are being deployed and the foundations of 6G solutions are being identified. However, in parallel to this, another technological breakthrough is observed, as the concept of open radio access networks is coming into play. Together with advancing network virtualization and programmability, this may reshape the way the functionalities and services related to radio access are designed, leading to modular and flexible implementations. This paper overviews the idea of open radio access networks and presents ongoing O-RAN Alliance standardization activities in this context. The whole analysis is supported by a study of the traffic steering use case implemented in a modular way, following the open networking approach.

Resource Allocation Scheme for Fog-Enabled Wireless Access Networks under the QoS of Users

With the complexity of the network architecture, the diversity of network slicing, and the introduction of advanced techniques such as device to device (D2D), it is difficult for the next-generation (5G+ or 6G) networks to comprehensively consider the requirements of users from different slices and jointly allocate wireless resources to improve network energy efficiency. This paper studies the energy efficiency optimization problem for D2D-enabled fog radio access networks (FRANs). A resource allocation algorithm is proposed to maximize the network energy efficiency by jointly optimizing the beamforming vector, resource block allocation, and transmission power of the remote radio heads (RRHs), fog access point (FAP), and D2D users. The developed algorithm is based on nonlinear programming, convex optimization, and Lagrangian duality. Simulation results show that, by applying the proposed algorithm, the system throughput is significantly improved, and the network energy consumption is greatly reduced, which can ultimately improve the network energy efficiency obviously.

Whole Scenario of 5G Communication Access in the Digital Transformation of Medium and Large Enterprises

With the evolution and upgrading of the fifth-generation mobile communication technology, the mobile network will support a larger mobile user group and more diverse business scenarios, greatly enhance the Internet service experience, and fully support IoT-aware applications. As the forefront of the Internet of Everything, the wireless access network plays an important role in the evolution of the network. The continuous innovation of a new generation of information technology, especially the application of technologies such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, has triggered an upsurge in the digital transformation of enterprises. Digital transformation has had a profound impact on the production and operation activities of enterprises and has also changed the organization and management of enterprise innovation activities. From the perspective of the innovation ecosystem, the digital transformation of a single enterprise leads to changes in innovation activities, which will converge and emerge new characteristics at the system level. The purpose of this article is to study the full scenarios of 5G communication access in the digital transformation of medium and large enterprises. This article starts with the development trend of wireless access networks, analyzes network slicing technologies in detail, and points out that wireless access networks are moving towards 5G. Important challenges are faced in the development of the times. Based on the adaptive random access model proposed in this paper, a feedback adaptive optimization method is proposed. This method estimates the real access load through feedback and calculates the access threshold through the access load. Then, broadcast the threshold value to each user equipment through downlink broadcast. The results show that the normalized throughput rate of random access methods using AC-RACH and FC-RACH is higher than that of RA-RACH. Especially, when the arrival rate of user requests is getting higher and higher, the throughput rate of RA-RACH access will continue to decrease with the collision until it approaches zero. By comparing the key data of normalized throughput rate and access success rate, it is concluded that the feedback adaptive method has a significant performance improvement under heavy load conditions compared with the previous method.