Showing papers by "Romano Fantacci published in 2018"

A Matching Theory Framework for Tasks Offloading in Fog Computing for IoT Systems

Abstract: Fog Computing (FC) is an emerging paradigm that extends cloud computing toward the edge of the network. In particular, FC refers to a distributed computing infrastructure confined on a limited geographical area within which some Internet of Things applications/services run directly at the network edge on smart devices having computing, storage, and network connectivity, named fog nodes (FNs), with the goal of improving efficiency and reducing the amount of data that needs to be sent to the Cloud for massive data processing, analysis, and storage. This paper proposes an efficient strategy to offload computationally intensive tasks from end-user devices to FNs. The computation offload problem is formulated here as a matching game with externalities , with the aim of minimizing the worst case service time by taking into account both computational and communications costs. In particular, this paper proposes a strategy based on the deferred acceptance algorithm to achieve the efficient allocation in a distributed mode and ensuring stability over the matching outcome. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by resorting to computer simulations in terms of worst total completion time, mean waiting, and mean total completion time per task. Moreover, with the aim of highlighting the advantages of the proposed method, performance comparisons with different alternatives are also presented and critically discussed. Finally, a fairness analysis of the proposed allocation strategy is also provided on the basis of the evaluation of the Jain’s index.

A Real Case of Implementation of the Future 5G City

Abstract: The fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication systems is considered the key technology to enable a wide range of application scenarios and the effective spreading of the smart city concept. Vertical business use cases, specifically designed for the future 5G city, will have a strong economical and social impact. For this reason, ongoing 5G field trials have to test newly deployed technologies as well as the capability of 5G to create a new digital economy. This paper describes the 5G field trial environment that was launched in Italy at the end of 2017. The aim is to evaluate the capability of the 5G network of supporting innovative services with reference to suitably designed key performance indicators and to evaluate the opportunities offered by these services. Indeed, vertical business use cases, specifically designed for the future 5G city, with a strong economic and social impact, are under implementation and will be evaluated. In particular, the paper provides a detailed description of the deployment of an actual complete integrated 5G network. It shows how 5G is effective enabling technology for a wide range of vertical business and use cases. Indeed, its flexibility allows to satisfy completely different performance requirements of real services. Some preliminary results, obtained during the first phase, are presented for a smart mobility scenario.

Evaluation of IoT and videosurveillance applications in a 5G Smart City: the Italian 5G experimentation in Prato

Abstract: The fifth generation (5G) cellular network is expected to bring disrupting services to the market, not only in terms of increased bandwidth, but also for mobile users, Internet of Things devices, and industrial control scenarios. Even though the standardization process is still ongoing, some field trials are already planned or starting. The aim of the field trials is to offer practical highlights to the telecom and service operators about the effective possibility to promptly use the new technology as soon as the first devices will hit the market. As a matter of fact, there are still a number of open issues about 5G, and it is expected that the field trials will offer good insights about any potential pitfall before an actual deployment. In this paper we will offer an overview of the 5G standardization status, and we will describe two of the field trials that will be conducted in Prato (Italy) in the 5G Italian experimental project.

Energy efficient cooperative multicast beamforming in ultra dense networks

Abstract: Energy efficiency (EE) is one of the main requirements for future fifth generation wireless networks to allow a sustainable network development. Toward this goal, this study proposes a novel iterative algorithm to maximise the EE of multicast services in ultra dense networks. Macrocells and small cells cooperate using a multicast beamforming strategy to efficiently radiate the power in the considered area. Moreover, small cells are activated opportunistically, and their power levels are adjusted suitably. Due to the high complexity of the optimisation problem, the proposed algorithm works calculating iteratively beamforming weights and power adjustments, thus reducing the set of possible solutions. Then, an exhaustive search is performed among the elements of this restricted set. This solution has reduced computational complexity, and the achieved EE is higher than benchmark alternatives. Performance in terms of EE and complexity is provided together with a solution feasibility evaluation.

A Decomposition-based Architecture for Distributed Cyber-Foraging of Multiple Edge Functions

Abstract: Edge computing is an emerging paradigm whose goal is to boost with cloud resources available at the edge the computational capability of otherwise weak devices This paradigm is mostly attractive to reduce user perceived latency A central mechanism in edge computing is cyber-foraging, ie, the search and delegation to capable edge cloud processes of tasks too complex, time consuming or resource intensive to be running on user devices or low-latency demanding to be running remotely, as a form of edge function An edge function is any network or device-specific process that may be run on an edge process instead Despite the recent interest for this technology from industry and academia, cyber-foraging techniques and protocols have yet to be standardized In this paper, we leverage decomposition theory to propose an architecture providing insights in the design and implementation of protocols for cyber-foraging of multiple edge functions In contrast with several existing solutions, we argue that the (distributed) cyber-foraging orchestration should be policy-based and not an ad-hoc solution, ie, either a pure edge cloud burden or a device decision To this end, via simulations, we show how our approach can be used by edge computing providers and application programmers to compare and evaluate different alternative cyber-foraging solutions Our decomposition-based approach has general applicability to other network utility maximization problems, even outside the edge computing domain

Energy efficient multicast beamforming in ultra dense networks

Abstract: Ultra Dense Networks (UDNs) are considered a key element to address the expected growing of communication capacity demand in an affordable and sustainable way, improving both spectral and energy efficiency. This paper focuses on the energy efficiency of a coordinated multicell multicast transmission in UDNs. In particular, a new iterative algorithm is proposed, whose goal is to maximize the energy efficiency of a single-group multicast service. Toward this goal, the cells are activated opportunistically, only when needed, using suitable transmission power. Moreover, small cells use adaptive beamforming weights in order to increase the efficiency of the radiated power. The effectiveness of the proposed method is proven in terms of energy efficiency and in comparison with different benchmark solutions. Benefits and limits of network densification are evaluated.

An Integrated Framework for Fog Communications and Computing in Internet of Vehicles

Abstract: In this paper, the novel Fog Communications and Computing paradigm is addressed by presenting an integrated system architecture, that is applied to achieve a full context awareness for vehicular networks and, consequently, to react on traffic anomalous conditions. In particular, we propose to adopt a specific co-designed approach involving Application and Networks Layers. For the latter one, as no infrastructure usually exists, effective routing protocols are needed to guarantee a certain level of reliability of the information collected from individual vehicles. As a consequence, we investigated classical Epidemic Flooding based, Network Coding inspired and Chord protocols. Besides, we resort to Blockchain principle to design a distributed consensus sensing application. The system has been tested by resorting to OMNeT++ framework for its modularity, high fidelity and flexibility. Performance analysis has been conducted over realistic scenarios in terms of consensus making overhead, latency and scalability, pointing out the better trade-off allowing the overlay P2P network formation and the complete context awareness achieved by the vehicles community.

An Efficient Two-tier MAC Scheme for Satellite Machine-to-Machine Communications

Abstract: The use of satellite communications to support the Internet of Things paradigm is of paramount importance for application scenarios where machines are spread in remote and wide areas. In such context, this paper proposes an efficient hierarchical radio access scheme. Ground machines randomly access the radio channel to communicate with their cluster heads, which in turn relay the cluster's aggregated traffic toward the satellite. The aim is optimizing the resource allocation to different communication stages, allowing resource reuse among clusters, in order to minimize the packet drop probability, and hence, to maximize the system throughput. First, the optimal solution is derived for the single cluster, then it is extended to the multi-cluster scenario. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed method, also in comparison with benchmark approaches.

Reduced Power Multi-Cell Multicast Transmission

Abstract: Future 5G networks will require the reduction of the energy consumption despite the increase of connected devices and data traffic. This paper focuses on an efficient coordinated multicast transmission in Ultra Dense Networks. In particular, a new iterative algorithm is proposed, whose goal is the minimization of the total transmitted power while guaranteeing a minimum received signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio to all users belonging to the multicast group. Small cells are opportunistically activated, using adaptive transmission power and beamforming weights, to increase the efficiency of the radiated power. The effectiveness of the proposed method is proven in terms of transmitted power and energy efficiency in comparison with different benchmark solutions.

FOG-oriented Joint Computing and Networking: the GAUChO Project Vision

Abstract: This paper presents a novel architectural principle for distributed and heterogeneous systems integrating Fog Computing and Networking approaches, which has been proposed within the “Green Adaptive Fog Computing and Networking Architecture” (GAUChO) project, funded by the MIUR Progetti di Ricerca di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN) Bando 2015 - grant 2015YPXH4W-004. In particular a modular and flexible platform has been designed and developed, supporting low-latency and energy-efficiency applications as well as security, self-adaptation, and spectrum efficiency by means of a strict collaboration among devices. Specifically, the focus here is on the design of an integrated protocol architecture supporting mobile Fog-oriented services, and the developed Fog computing testbeds.