Showing papers in "IEEE Network in 2017"
TL;DR: This article first proposes a transparent computing based IoT architecture, and clearly identifies its advantages and associated challenges, and presents a case study to clearly show how to build scalable lightweight wearables with the proposed architecture.
Abstract: By moving service provisioning from the cloud to the edge, edge computing becomes a promising solution in the era of IoT to meet the delay requirements of IoT applications, enhance the scalability and energy efficiency of lightweight IoT devices, provide contextual information processing, and mitigate the traffic burdens of the backbone network. However, as an emerging field of study, edge computing is still in its infancy and faces many challenges in its implementation and standardization. In this article, we study an implementation of edge computing, which exploits transparent computing to build scalable IoT platforms. Specifically, we first propose a transparent computing based IoT architecture, and clearly identify its advantages and associated challenges. Then, we present a case study to clearly show how to build scalable lightweight wearables with the proposed architecture. Some future directions are finally pointed out to foster continued research efforts.
320 citations
TL;DR: An overview of features introduced for NB-IoT in LTE Release 14, including increased positioning accuracy, increased peak data rates, the introduction of a lower device power class, improved non-anchor carrier operation, multicast, and authorization of coverage enhancements are provided.
Abstract: In 3GPP LTE Release 13, Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) was standardized for providing wide-area connectivity for massive machine-type communications for IoT. In LTE Release 14, NB-IoT was further developed to deliver enhanced user experience in selected areas through the addition of features such as increased positioning accuracy, increased peak data rates, the introduction of a lower device power class, improved non-anchor carrier operation, multicast, and authorization of coverage enhancements. In this article, we provide an overview of these features introduced for NB-IoT in LTE Release 14. An analysis is given on the applicability of these features and their benefits to enhance the NB-IoT radio access technology.
173 citations
TL;DR: A detailed guidance is provided to explain the basic concepts, introduce the vulnerabilities of in-vehicle networks, and summarize the attacking methodologies for adversarial attacks on in-Vehicle networks.
Abstract: The emergence of in-vehicle networks, which are composed of controller area network (CAN) buses and a great number of ECUs, significantly reduces the difficulty of vehicle designing, repairing and refitting. While owing to the intrinsic vulnerabilities of in-vehicle networks and the increasingly rich interfaces to connect in-vehicle networks to the outside, adversarial attacks can be easily implemented on in-vehicle networks. Such attacks cause serious threats to automobile security and drivers� privacy. In light of this, we provide in this article a detailed guidance, explain the basic concepts, introduce the vulnerabilities of in-vehicle networks, and summarize the attacking methodologies. We also provide countermeasures for in-vehicle networks and point out challenges and future directions.
170 citations
TL;DR: Examples and numerical results show that ultra low-latency services can be achieved by the F-RAN by properly handling the tradeoff, and the need for a service framework for F- RAN to cope with the complex tradeoff among performance, computing cost, and communication cost is discussed.
Abstract: The ultra low-latency operations of communications and computing enable many potential IoT applications, and thus have gained widespread attention recently. Existing mobile devices and telecommunication systems may not be able to provide the highly desired low-latency computing and communications services. To meet the needs of those applications, we introduce the Fog-Radio Access Network (F-RAN) architecture, which brings the efficient computing capability of the cloud to the edge of the network. By distributing computing-intensive tasks to multiple F-RAN nodes, F-RAN has the potential to meet the requirements of those ultra low-latency applications. In this article, we first introduce the F-RAN and its rationale in serving ultra low-latency applications. Then we discuss the need for a service framework for F-RAN to cope with the complex tradeoff among performance, computing cost, and communication cost. Finally, we illustrate the mobile AR service as an exemplary scenario to provide insights for the design of the framework. Examples and numerical results show that ultra low-latency services can be achieved by the F-RAN by properly handling the tradeoff.
168 citations
TL;DR: This article surveys the state-of-the-art solutions for controller placement in SDN, draws a taxonomy based on their objectives, and proposes a new approach to minimize the packet propagation latency between controllers and switches.
Abstract: Recently, a variety of solutions have been proposed to tackle the controller placement problem in SDN. The objectives include minimizing the latency between controllers and their associated switches, enhancing reliability and resilience of the network, and minimizing deployment cost and energy consumption. In this article, we first survey the state-of-the-art solutions and draw a taxonomy based on their objectives, and then propose a new approach to minimize the packet propagation latency between controllers and switches. In order to encourage future research, we also identify the ongoing research challenges and open issues relevant to this problem.
141 citations
TL;DR: This article utilizes UAV-based floating relay to deploy FR cells inside the macrocell, and thus achieves dynamic and adaptive coverage, and comprehensive analyses on FR cells' deployment including frequency reuse, interference, backhaul resource allocation, and coverage are given.
Abstract: The growing popularity of mobile Internet and massive MTC with special traffic characteristics and locations have imposed huge challenges to current cellular networks. Deploying new base stations, however, becomes difficult and expensive, especially for complicated urban scenarios and MTC traffic. The UAV-assisted heterogeneous cellular solution is proposed in this article. It utilizes UAV-based floating relay (FR) to deploy FR cells inside the macrocell, and thus achieves dynamic and adaptive coverage. Comprehensive analyses on FR cells' deployment including frequency reuse, interference, backhaul resource allocation, and coverage are given.
125 citations
TL;DR: A survey of 5G challenges in the view of effective management of multicasts applications is provided, and how to enhance the mobile network architecture to enable multicast applications in future 5G scenarios is identified.
Abstract: The number and variety of mobile multicast applications are growing at an unprecedented and unanticipated pace. Mobile network providers are in front of a dramatic increase in multicast traffic load, and this growth is forecasted to continue in fifth-generation (5G) networks. The major challenges come from the fact that multicast traffic not only targets groups of end-user devices; it also involves machine-type communications (MTC) for the Internet of Things (IoT). The increase in the MTC load, predicted for 5G, calls into question the effectiveness of the current multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). The aim of this paper is to provide a survey of 5G challenges in the view of effective management of multicast applications, and to identify how to enhance the mobile network architecture to enable multicast applications in future 5G scenarios. By accounting for the presence of both human and machine-related traffic, strengths and weaknesses of the state-of-the-art achievements in multicasting are critically analyzed to provide guidelines for future research on 5G networks and more conscious design choices.
121 citations
TL;DR: An overview of two procedures to reduce the required signaling in NB-IoT, one based on the control plane and the other on the user plane, and an evaluation of their performance show both optimizations achieve a battery lifetime extension of more than two years for a large range in the considered cases, and up to eight years for CP with good coverage.
Abstract: Large-scale deployments of massive machine type communications involve several challenges on cellular networks. To address the challenges of massive machine-type communications, or more generally, the Internet of Things (IoT), the 3GPP has developed Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) as part of Release 13. NB-IoT is designed to provide better indoor coverage, support of a massive number of low-throughput devices, with relaxed delay requirements, and lower energy consumption. NB-IoT reuses Long Term Evolution functionality with simplifications and optimizations. Particularly for small data transmissions, NB-IoT specifies two procedures to reduce the required signaling: one of them based on the control plane and the other on the user plane (UP). In this work, we provide an overview of these procedures as well as an evaluation of their performance. The results of the energy consumption show both optimizations achieve a battery lifetime extension of more than two years for a large range in the considered cases, and up to eight years for CP with good coverage. In terms of cell capacity relative to Service Request, CP achieves gains from 26 to 224 percent, and UP ranges from 36 to 165 percent. The comparison of CP and UP optimizations yields similar results, except for some specific configurations.
116 citations
TL;DR: This article discusses how to leverage protocol-oblivious forwarding (POF) to further enhance the network programmability such that the forwarding plane becomes protocol-independent and can be dynamically reprogrammed to support new protocol stacks seamlessly.
Abstract: Software-defined networking separates the control and forwarding planes of a network to make it more programmable and application- aware. As one of the initial implementations of SDN, OpenFlow abstracts a forwarding device as a flow table and realizes flow processing by applying the "match-and-act" principle. However, the protocol-dependent nature of OpenFlow still limits the programmability of the forwarding plane. Hence, in this article, we discuss how to leverage protocol-oblivious forwarding (POF) to further enhance the network programmability such that the forwarding plane becomes protocol-independent and can be dynamically reprogrammed to support new protocol stacks seamlessly. We first review the development of OpenFlow and explain the motivations for introducing POF. Then we explain the working principle of POF, discuss our efforts on realizing the POF development ecosystem, and show our implementation of POF-based source routing as a novel use case. Finally, we elaborate on the first WAN-based POF network testbed that includes POF switches located in two cities in China.
113 citations
TL;DR: The research conducted in the field of WPCN is reviewed and opportunities for further extensions of these networks are discussed, looking from the IoT point of view, to present some of the points that must be taken into account for impeccable operation of W PCN in the IoT environment.
Abstract: With the ever-increasing speed of technological advances, more and more objects are being connected to the Internet every day and the world is moving toward the next generation of the Internet, the so called Internet of Things (IoT). However, numerous challenges need to be addressed for the widespread adoption of the IoT paradigm. Energy scarcity is one of these challenges. Recently, the advent of energy harvesting has relaxed energy limitation concerns. Specifically, RF energy harvesting has attracted a large amount of research due to its clear advantages over other energy harvesting methods. Lately, the extensive research in the RF energy harvesting domain has led to the emergence of wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs), where energy-constrained users are powered by wireless energy transfer of an integrated energy and information access point referred to as a hybrid access point (HAP). In this article, we review the research conducted in the field of WPCN and discuss opportunities for further extensions of these networks. Looking from the IoT point of view, we also present some of the points that must be taken into account for impeccable operation of WPCN in the IoT environment.
103 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed and discussed the application of data analysis methods for energy big data in intelligent energy networks and showed that existing methods for data analysis cannot fully meet the requirements for processing the big data produced by IENs, therefore more comprehensive data analysis method are needed to handle the increasing amount of data and to mine more valuable information.
Abstract: Data analysis plays an important role in the development of intelligent energy networks (IENs). This article reviews and discusses the application of data analysis methods for energy big data. The installation of smart energy meters has provided a huge volume of data at different time resolutions, suggesting data analysis is required for clustering, demand forecasting, energy generation optimization, energy pricing, monitoring and diagnostics. The currently adopted data analysis technologies for IENs include pattern recognition, machine learning, data mining, statistics methods, and so on. However, existing methods for data analysis cannot fully meet the requirements for processing the big data produced by IENs, therefore more comprehensive data analysis methods are needed to handle the increasing amount of data and to mine more valuable information.
TL;DR: The goal is to provide a broad research guideline of existing and ongoing efforts via social influence analysis in large-scale social networks, and to help researchers better understand the existing work, and design new algorithms and methods forsocial influence analysis.
Abstract: Social influence analysis has become one of the most important technologies in modern information and service industries. It will definitely become an essential mechanism to perform complex analysis in social networking big data. It is attracting an increasing amount of research ranging from popular topics extraction to social influence analysis, including analysis and processing of big data, social influence evaluation, influential users identification, and information diffusion modeling. We provide a comprehensive investigation of social influence analysis, and discuss the characteristics of social influence and the architecture of social influence analysis based on social networking big data. The relationship between big data and social influence analysis is also discussed. In addition, research challenges relevant to real-world issues based on social networking big data in social influence analysis are discussed, focusing on research issues such as scalability, data collection, dynamic evolution, causal relationships, network heterogeneity, evaluation metrics, and effective mechanisms. Our goal is to provide a broad research guideline of existing and ongoing efforts via social influence analysis in large-scale social networks, and to help researchers better understand the existing work, and design new algorithms and methods for social influence analysis.
TL;DR: This article proposes a design of software as a service called OpenPipe, which enables network-level virtualization and adopts a hybrid control model with two hierarchical control levels, where an SDN controller forms the higher level and local controllers comprise the lower level.
Abstract: Today, billions of communication devices connecting to wireless networks impose serious challenges to network deployment, management, and data processing. Among all emerging technologies tackling these challenges, SDNs decouple the control plane from the data plane to provide network programmability, and virtualization can share network and radio resources among various applications. On the other hand, fog computing offloads computing services from the cloud to the edge of networks, offering real-time data services to nearby data terminals. In this article, we present an integrated architecture for software defined and virtualized radio access networks with fog computing. We propose a design of software as a service called OpenPipe, which enables network-level virtualization. To integrate SDNs and network virtualization with fog computing, we adopt a hybrid control model with two hierarchical control levels, where an SDN controller forms the higher level and local controllers comprise the lower level. Typical use cases of the proposed network architecture are validated through laboratory demonstrations.
TL;DR: This article aims to provide an integrated picture of this emerging field to bridge multiple disciplines and hopefully to inspire future research.
Abstract: The worldwide rollout of 4G LTE mobile communication networks has accelerated the proliferation of the mobile Internet and spurred a new wave of mobile applications on smartphones. This new wave has provided mobile operators an enormous opportunity to collect a huge amount of data to monitor the technical and transactional aspects of their networks. Recent research on mobile big data mining have shown its great potential for diverse purposes ranging from improving traffic management, enabling personal and contextual services, to monitoring city dynamics and so on. The mobile big data research has a multi-disciplinary nature that demands distinct knowledge from mobile communications, signal processing, and data mining. The research field of mobile big data has emerged quickly in recent years, but is somewhat fragmented. This article aims to provide an integrated picture of this emerging field to bridge multiple disciplines and hopefully to inspire future research.
TL;DR: This article estimates the neighbor eNB transition probabilities of the mobile node and their available resource probabilities by using a Markov chain formulation and reveals that the proposed strategy reduces the handover delay and failures by 52 and 21 percent compared to the conventional approach.
Abstract: Ultra-densification is a key approach aimed at satisfying high data traffic in next-generation 5G networks. However, the high number of small cell eNB deployments in such ultra-dense networks (UDNs) may result in unnecessary, frequent, and back-and-forth handovers, with additional problems related to increased delay and total failure of the handoff process. Additionally, due to the separation of control and data signaling in 5G technology, the handover operation must be executed in both tiers. In this article, we propose an SDN-based mobility and available resource estimation strategy to solve the handover delay problem. Here, we estimate the neighbor eNB transition probabilities of the mobile node and their available resource probabilities by using a Markov chain formulation. This allows a mathematically elegant framework to select the optimal eNBs and then assign these to mobile nodes virtually, with all connections completed through the use of OpenFlow tables. Finally, we compare the conventional LTE and our proposed handover strategies by analyzing the observed delays according to the densification ratio parameter. Also, we analyze the handover failure ratios of both strategies according to the user number. Results reveal that the proposed strategy reduces the handover delay and failures by 52 and 21 percent compared to the conventional approach.
TL;DR: An SDN enabled resource allocation framework is proposed to facilitate WNV, including the key procedures and the corresponding modeling approaches, and some open research topics essential to WNV are discussed.
Abstract: Next generation (5G) wireless networks are expected to support massive data and accommodate a wide range of services/use cases with distinct requirements in a cost-effective, flexible, and agile manner. As a promising solution, WNV, or network slicing, enables multiple virtual networks to share a common infrastructure on demand, and to be customized for different services/use cases. This article focuses on network-wide resource allocation for realizing WNV. Specifically, the motivations, the enabling platforms, and the benefits of WNV, are first reviewed. Then, resource allocation for WNV and the technical challenges are discussed. Afterward, an SDN enabled resource allocation framework is proposed to facilitate WNV, including the key procedures and the corresponding modeling approaches. A case study is provided as an example of resource allocation in WNV. Finally, some open research topics essential to WNV are discussed.
TL;DR: A novel cooperative hierarchical caching (CHC) framework in C-RAN is introduced where contents are jointly cached at the BBU and at the RRHs, bridging the latency/capacity gap between the traditional edge-based and core-based caching schemes.
Abstract: Over the last few years, C-RAN is proposed as a transformative architecture for 5G cellular networks that brings the flexibility and agility of cloud computing to wireless communications. At the same time, content caching in wireless networks has become an essential solution to lower the content- access latency and backhaul traffic loading, leading to user QoE improvement and network cost reduction. In this article, a novel cooperative hierarchical caching (CHC) framework in C-RAN is introduced where contents are jointly cached at the BBU and at the RRHs. Unlike in traditional approaches, the cache at the BBU, cloud cache, presents a new layer in the cache hierarchy, bridging the latency/capacity gap between the traditional edge-based and core-based caching schemes. Trace-driven simulations reveal that CHC yields up to 51 percent improvement in cache hit ratio, 11 percent decrease in average content access latency, and 18 percent reduction in backhaul traffic load compared to the edge-only caching scheme with the same total cache capacity. Before closing the article, we discuss the key challenges and promising opportunities for deploying content caching in C-RAN in order to make it an enabler technology in 5G ultra-dense systems.
TL;DR: A novel radio resource management framework is proposed based on game-theoretic models for uplink and downlink transmissions and focuses on the two main categories of resource reuse: power-domain and code-domain NOMA.
Abstract: Non-orthogonal multiple access techniques have been proposed recently for 5G wireless systems and beyond to improve access efficiency by allowing many users to share the same spectrum. Due to the strong co-channel interference among mobile users introduced by NOMA, it poses significant challenges for system design and resource management. This article reviews resource management issues in NOMA systems. The main taxonomy of NOMA is presented by focusing on the two main categories of resource reuse: power-domain and code-domain NOMA. Then a novel radio resource management framework is proposed based on game-theoretic models for uplink and downlink transmissions. Finally, potential applications and open research directions in the area of resource management for NOMA are provided.
TL;DR: A fogbased and cloud-based hybrid computing model named "Foud" applied to V2G networks in 5G is proposed and the potential V1G network services provided by Foud are reviewed, and open issues and challenges for future work are also discussed with possible solutions.
Abstract: V2G technology is considered a powerful approach enabling renewable energy sources to provide ancillary electrical services, and managing and monitoring power usage in the smart grid. However, owing to the inherent high mobility of EVs, flexible and timely on-demand response services against EV mobility in the V2G system must be provided. Promoted by the advantages of 5G communications, e.g., supporting various connectivity and faster transmission, fogs and clouds are enabled to provide realistic services, and fog computing and cloud computing assisted V2G systems in future 5G mobile networks are expected to be a new paradigm to create a new situation for V2G services. To this end, a fogbased and cloud-based hybrid computing model named "Foud" applied to V2G networks in 5G is proposed. The potential V2G network services provided by Foud are reviewed, and open issues and challenges for future work are also discussed with possible solutions.
TL;DR: The HetNet synthesizes Locator/ID split and Information-Centric Networking to establish a general network architecture and is able to achieve heterogeneous network convergence, routing scalability alleviation, mobility support, traffic engineering, and efficient content delivery.
Abstract: As satellite networks have played an indispensable role in many fields, how to integrate them with terrestrial networks (e.g., the Internet) has attracted significant attention in academia. However, it is challenging to efficiently build such an integrated network, since terrestrial networks are facing a number of serious problems, and since they do not provide good support for heterogeneous network convergence. In this article, we propose a flexible network architecture, HetNet, for efficient integration of heterogeneous satellite-terrestrial networks. Specifically, the HetNet synthesizes Locator/ID split and Information-Centric Networking to establish a general network architecture. In this way, it is able to achieve heterogeneous network convergence, routing scalability alleviation, mobility support, traffic engineering, and efficient content delivery. Moreover, the HetNet can further improve its network elasticity by using the techniques of Software-Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualization. In addition, to evaluate the HetNet performance, we build a proof-of-concept prototype system and conduct extensive experiments. The results confirm the feasibility of the HetNet and its advantages.
TL;DR: This article provides an extensive overview of positioning architectures in previous generations of cellular networks to show a road map of how positioning technologies have evolved in past decades, and proposes a general positioning architecture for 5G networks by exploiting the new features of emerging technologies wherein.
Abstract: Accurate and real-time positioning is highly demanded by location-based services in 5G networks, which are currently being standardized and developed to achieve significant performance improvement over existing cellular networks. In 5G networks, many new envisioned technologies, for example, massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), millimeter Wave (mmWave) communication, ultra dense network (UDN), and device-to-device (D2D) communication, are introduced to not only enhance communication performance but also offer the possibility to increase positioning accuracy. In this article, we provide an extensive overview of positioning architectures in previous generations of cellular networks to show a road map of how positioning technologies have evolved in past decades. With this insight, we then propose a general positioning architecture for 5G networks, by exploiting the new features of emerging technologies wherein. We also investigate positioning technologies that have great potential in achieving sub-meter accuracy in 5G networks, and discuss some of the new challenges and open issues.
TL;DR: An architecture for an LTE-D2D system and its application scenarios with various security threats and requirements are given and two frameworks for cross-application-physical-layer security methods are proposed.
Abstract: Device-to-device communication is a promising technology that can offload heavy traffic in 5G networks. However, due to its open nature, there are several security issues. The LTE-A standard introduces security and protection mechanisms, which include mutual authentication between the UEs and the eNB. Unfortunately, D2D communications still face various threats: jamming, data modification, free-riding, and privacy violation. In this article, we first give an architecture for an LTE-D2D system and its application scenarios with various security threats and requirements. Then we investigate privacy concerns in terms of location privacy, identity privacy, and data privacy. Afterward, we propose security solutions from aspects of application-layer security and physical-layer security, respectively. Further, we propose two frameworks for cross-application-physical-layer security methods. Finally, the challenges and future research directions are presented.
TL;DR: This article presents the application scenarios exploiting TV white space in heterogeneous connected vehicular communication networks, discusses white space channel availability and characteristics for vehicular communications, and proposes TVwhite space geolocation database based vehicular Communication architectures for vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and vehicle- to-vehicle (V2V) communications.
Abstract: Connected vehicle technology provides many potential benefits on the road such as safety applications, effective traffic management, and mobile Internet access. In order to mitigate the resulting high spectrum demands and provide vehicular connectivity with wider communication range, higher transmission rate, and lower data transfer cost, in this article, we exploit the abundant TV white space with superior propagation characteristics and building penetration performance. We first present the application scenarios exploiting TV white space in heterogeneous connected vehicular communication networks, and discuss white space channel availability and characteristics for vehicular communications. We then propose TV white space geolocation database based vehicular communication architectures for vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. Finally, we highlight the key technical challenges and pinpoint future research directions toward exploiting TV white space for vehicular communication networks.
TL;DR: An overview of the combination of wireless energy and information transmission in WBANs is provided, and three application models are built to highlight the key design challenges, solutions, and opportunities.
Abstract: Wireless body area networks (WBANs) aim to improve the speed, accuracy and reliability of communication of sensors/actuators that are energy-limited Some significant physiological parameters need a higher transmission rate and a larger amount of energy Since they harvest different amounts of energy from the surrounding environment of the human body, the advances in wireless energy transfer provide an attractive solution to supply continuous and stable energy for sensors However, the additional energy dimension raises many new research problems and implementation issues in the dynamic and heterogeneous WBAN It is important to perform a trade-off between wireless information and energy transmission In this article, we provide an overview of the combination of wireless energy and information transmission in WBANs, and build three application models to highlight the key design challenges, solutions, and opportunities
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a green cloudlet network (GCN) architecture in the context of mobile cloud computing, which is aimed at providing seamless and low end-to-end delay between a UE and its Avatar (software clone) in the cloudlets to facilitate the application workloads offloading process.
Abstract: This article introduces a green cloudlet network (GCN) architecture in the context of mobile cloud computing The proposed architecture is aimed at providing seamless and low end-to-end delay between a UE and its Avatar (its software clone) in the cloudlets to facilitate the application workloads offloading process Furthermore, an SDN-based core network is introduced in the GCN architecture by replacing the traditional Evolved Packet Core in the LTE network in order to provide efficient communications connections between different end points The Cloudlet Network File System (CNFS) is designed based on the proposed architecture in order to protect the Avatars’ dataset against hardware failures and improve Avatars’ performance in terms of data access latency Moreover, a green energy supplement is proposed in the architecture in order to reduce the extra OPEX and CO2 footprint incurred by running the distributed cloudlets Due to the temporal and spatial dynamics of both the green energy generation and energy demands of green cloudlet systems (GCSs), designing an optimal green energy management strategy based on the characteristics of green energy generation and the energy demands of eNBs and cloudlets to minimize the on-grid energy consumption is critical to the cloudlet provider
TL;DR: This article considers fog computing as an ideal complement rather than a substitute for cloud computing, and proposes an SDN enabled framework for cloud-fog interoperation, aiming at improving quality of experience and optimizing network resource usage.
Abstract: The growing storage and compute stacks in cloud data centers are expected to accommodate the majority of Internet traffic in the future. However, as the number of mobile devices significantly increases, getting massive data into and out of the cloud wirelessly inflicts high pressure on the bandwidth, and meanwhile induces unpredictable latency. Fog computing, which advocates extending clouds to the network edge, guarantees low latency and location-aware service provisioning. In this article, we consider fog computing as an ideal complement rather than a substitute for cloud computing, and we propose an SDN enabled framework for cloud-fog interoperation, aiming at improving quality of experience and optimizing network resource usage. Two case studies are provided to illuminate the feasibility and advantages of the proposed framework. Finally, potential research issues are presented for further investigation.
TL;DR: This work proposes a combined control and communication approach considering distributed features and vehicle preferences in order to ensure efficient energy transfer and indicates that the proposed approach can yield higher revenue than the conventional pricing mechanism in V2G networks.
Abstract: Making full use of V2G services, EVs with batteries may assist the smart grid in alleviating peaks of energy consumption. Aiming to develop a systematic understanding of the interplay between smart grid and EVs, an architecture for the V2G networks with the EV aggregator is designed to maintain the balance between energy suppliers (the grid side) and consumers (the EV side). We propose a combined control and communication approach considering distributed features and vehicle preferences in order to ensure efficient energy transfer. In our model, the integrated communication and control unit can achieve realtime and intelligent management with the logic controller and collected data. On the consumers' side, we theoretically analyze how to satisfy the charging constraints that we incorporate in the form of willingness to pay, and propose a distributed framework to coordinate the energy delivery behaviors for satisfying service demands. Moreover, illustrative results indicate that the proposed approach can yield higher revenue than the conventional pricing mechanism in V2G networks.
TL;DR: This article first introduces social relationship formation, and then social learning based cooperative network evaluation and social relationship based peer selection are investigated, respectively, and numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Abstract: With an increasing demand to improve spectrum efficiency and energy efficiency in cellular networks, device-to-device (D2D) communications have drawn a lot of attention from both academia and industry. Cooperative D2D networking, which allows for cooperation among mobile users (MUs) via D2D links while communicating with other MUs or base stations (BSs), is one of the most promising techniques in D2D communications. In cooperative D2D communications, two major issues need to be investigated: network performance evaluation and peer selection. In order to enhance evaluation accuracy while maintaining data privacy, it is essential to employ social interactions among MUs in cooperative D2D communications. In this article, we investigate social aware cooperative D2D networks. We first introduce social relationship formation, and then social learning based cooperative network evaluation and social relationship based peer selection are investigated, respectively. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
TL;DR: The results in this article show that the proposed SDNbased handover scenarios perform better than the existing 4G-LTE handover for UAVs.
Abstract: Compared to traditional networking, SDN has better controllability and visibility for network components, which enable better management by using the common controller. In this article, the standard architecture of SDN is enhanced to utilize UAVs as on-demand forwarding switches. The proposed approach can achieve efficient management and fast handovers by decreasing the handover latency, E2E delay, and signaling overheads. The illustrated scenarios will help in understanding the impact of existing handover approaches in the next generation wireless networks, especially the upcoming 5G, which includes small cells, UAVs, UEs, and so on. The simulation study shows that scenarios with both UAVs and small cells perform better than scenarios with only small cells. The results in this article show that the proposed SDNbased handover scenarios perform better than the existing 4G-LTE handover for UAVs.
TL;DR: A hierarchical power control solution to perform the joint optimization of cell association and power control to improve the spectrum and energy efficiency in NOMA-enabled 5G V-SCNs is proposed.
Abstract: Recently, the concept of 5G vehicular smallcell networking (V-SCN) has been proposed to meet the growing demand of mobile data services in vehicular communications. However, it is a great challenge to explore spectrum and energy efficiency due to the fast vehicle mobility and varying communication environment. In this article, we focus on critical issues, such as interference management and handover, when employing 5G V-SCNs. In order to solve these issues, the network architecture embedded with NOMA is deigned. Furthermore, we propose a hierarchical power control solution to perform the joint optimization of cell association and power control to improve the spectrum and energy efficiency in NOMA-enabled 5G V-SCNs. Numerical comparison results provide some guidelines for developing NOMA-enabled 5G V-SCNs in an economical and highly energy-efficient manner.