Ioannis P. Chochliouros

Introducing Mobile Edge Computing Capabilities through Distributed 5G Cloud Enabled Small Cells

Current trends in broadband mobile networks are addressed towards the placement of different capabilities at the edge of the mobile network in a centralised way. On one hand, the split of the eNB between baseband processing units and remote radio headers makes it possible to process some of the protocols in centralised premises, likely with virtualised resources. On the other hand, mobile edge computing makes use of processing and storage capabilities close to the air interface in order to deploy optimised services with minimum delay. The confluence of both trends is a hot topic in the definition of future 5G networks. The full centralisation of both technologies in cloud data centres imposes stringent requirements to the fronthaul connections in terms of throughput and latency. Therefore, all those cells with limited network access would not be able to offer these types of services. This paper proposes a solution for these cases, based on the placement of processing and storage capabilities close to the remote units, which is especially well suited for the deployment of clusters of small cells. The proposed cloud-enabled small cells include a highly efficient microserver with a limited set of virtualised resources offered to the cluster of small cells. As a result, a light data centre is created and commonly used for deploying centralised eNB and mobile edge computing functionalities. The paper covers the proposed architecture, with special focus on the integration of both aspects, and possible scenarios of application.

Future internet elements: cognition and self-management design issues

The scope of this paper is to introduce an innovative paradigm for cognitive self-managed elements of the Future Internet. The present Internet model is based on clear separation of concerns between protocol layers, with intelligence moved to the edges, and with the existent protocol pool targeting user and control plane operations with less emphasis on management tasks. Future Internet shall be engineered based on cognitive behavior with a high degree of autonomy, by proposing the operation of self-managed Future Internet elements around a novel hierarchical feedback-control cycle. The concepts are based on a hierarchical Distributed Cognitive cycle for System & Network Management (DC-SNM) which aims at facilitating the promotion of distributed management. The management approach encompasses a hierarchical distribution of cognitive cycles, breaking down the execution and decision making levels to (autonomic) network elements, network domain types and up to the service provider realm in order to address management, dynamic organization and (re)configuration of future internet elements.

Optical Access Networks and Advanced Photonics: Technologies and Deployment Strategies

With the growing demand for increased bandwidth, conventional broadband access solutions will quickly become a hindrance in terms of bandwidth provision for network access. Optical Access Networks and Advanced Photonics: Technologies and Deployment Strategies presents a comprehensive overview of emerging optical access network solutions to efficiently meet the anticipated growth in bandwidth demand. Covering topics such as next-generation networking, communication networks, and photonics, this book provides the latest technology trends in order to grasp the expected beneficial use of optical access infrastructures.

A Model for an Innovative 5G-Oriented Architecture, Based on Small Cells Coordination for Multi-tenancy and Edge Services

The “core” aim of the SESAME EU-funded research project is to design and develop a novel 5G platform based on the use of Small Cells, featuring multi-tenancy between network operators and also attach to them edge cloud capabilities to be offered to both the network operators and the mobile users. SESAME aims at providing a fresh 5G mobile network architecture so as to support the ambitious goal of small cell virtualization, multitenancy and edge cloud services. In the present work we assess the fundamental SESAME components and their role in the respective systems, while analysing the initial framework of the essential relevant architecture to implement the critical targets of the respective approach. Finally we identify future potential extensions.

Utilizing a High Definition Live Video Platform to Facilitate Public Service Delivery

The LiveCity Project effort intends to create a city-based “Living Lab” and associated ecosystem to pilot live interactive high-definition video-to-video (v2v) on ultrafast wireless and wireline Internet infrastructure for the support of appropriate public service use cases among a number of city user communities initially in four major European cities. The essential aim is to empower the citizens of a city to interact with each other in a more productive, efficient and socially useful way by using v2v over the Internet, as the latter can be considered to improve city administration, enhance education and city experiences for tourists/cultural consumers and save patients’ lives. We discuss the role that stakeholders can play in identifying appropriate KPIs to assess the progress of the LiveCity concept, covering the underlying network infrastructure, the intended services-facilities per specific case, as well as users’ satisfaction and requirements.

A Multi-Hop Relay Station Software Architecture Design, on the Basis of the WiMAX IEEE 802.16j Standard

In order to enable rapid and cost-effective deployment of WiMAX networks, relay technology which does not require backhaul line, can be considered as an essential feature for performing a successful business development. In the scope of a proposed Multi-Hop relay network architecture, (based on the recently developed IEEE 802.16j standard in order to enhance throughput, network coverage and capacity density), we provide an essential description of the Relay Station Software architecture design (PHY and MAC layers architecture), as it has been proposed by the REWIND European Research Program. The corresponding relay node is based on a highly integrated SoC device, which incorporates all baseband processing (PHY, MAC and CS), networking and control processors required for the relay station functionality. Thus, the Relay node software shall run all the PHY, MAC, scheduler and networking functionalities, required to operate a complete BS with relay functionality, and to integrate the node into the relay network.

Developing Innovative Live Video-to-Video Communications for Smarter European Cities

The LiveCity Project effort intends to create a city-based “Living Lab” and associated ecosystem to pilot live interactive high-definition video-to-video (v2v) on ultrafast wireless and wireline Internet infrastructure for the support of appropriate public service use cases among a number of city user communities initially in four major European cities (Dublin, Athens, Luxembourg (city) and Valladolid). The essential aim is to empower the citizens of a city to interact with each other in a more productive, efficient and socially useful way by using v2v over the Internet, as the latter can be considered to improve city administration, reduce fuel costs and carbon footprint, enhance education, improve city experiences for tourists/cultural consumers and save patients’ lives. LiveCity underpins technology which has the ability to massively scale while it integrates the necessary ingredients in an efficient low-cost manner and provides a proper testing ground for a mass market deployment to the cities in Europe.

Situation awareness mechanisms for cognitive networks

The paper provides a study of situation awareness mechanisms in modern telecommunication networks on the essential basis of the actual Self-NET research Project effort. Since cognition has today become one of the key features of most systems, novel mechanisms for identification, comprehension and corresponding reaction to altering environmental conditions are continuously being developed. The necessity of situation awareness techniques as well as potential ways for their realization is pointed out, in the broader context of the Future Internet.

Towards the Adoption of Secure Cloud Identity Services

Enhancing trust among service providers and end-users with respect to data protection is an urgent matter in the growing information society. In response, CREDENTIAL proposes an innovative cloud-based service for storing, managing, and sharing of digital identity information and other highly critical personal data with a demonstrably higher level of security than other current solutions. CREDENTIAL enables end-to-end confidentiality and authenticity as well as improved privacy in cloud-based identity management and data sharing scenarios. In this paper, besides clarifying the vision and use cases, we focus on the adoption of CREDENTIAL. Firstly, for adoption by providers, we elaborate on the functionality of CREDENTIAL, the services implementing these functions, and the physical architecture needed to deploy such services. Secondly, we investigate factors from related research that could be used to facilitate CREDENTIALs adoption and list key benefits as convincing arguments.

The emergence of operator-neutral small cells as a strong case for cloud computing at the mobile edge

Small cells have emerged as a useful tool for supporting increased network capacity through network densification, but they can also be used to support edge cloud computing services. In this paper, we provide a preview of an innovative concept that tackles the consolidation of multi-tenancy in such type communications infrastructures, as well as the placement of network intelligence and applications in the network edge. After surveing the challenges and the enabling technologies, we present the envisaged architecture to manage and control the Cloud-Enabled Small Cell infrastructure. Also, at the operation level, we explain the potential advantages of adopting the proposed solutions on the long-term evolution access networks. Copyright