5G-Waves: Wireless Access Virtualization Enabling Strategies for 5th-Generation Wireless Networks

虚拟化已被提议作为下一代网络范例的基础，特别是在未来的互联网领域。通过在单个物理基板上创建多个逻辑网络，它在资源利用和能源消耗方面提供了更高的灵活性、可扩展性和效率。作为计算机科学中一个有几十年历史的概念，直到最近才发展到包括创建虚拟网络（VN），从而实现虚拟功能，如虚拟路由器、链路、基站等。尽管最近的一些重大举措在从高层到低层的自上而下的方法中将虚拟化扩展到无线网络，但对于如何在物理（PHY）和介质访问控制（MAC）层启用WAV仍然相对沉默!该项目的目标正是通过在第五代无线网络的未来环境中在PHY和MAC层开发WAV使能策略（WAVES），在这一最终和最具挑战性的前沿开拓和创新。在这些层处产生的WAV中的干扰问题将在具有多层小区和多种无线电接入技术（多RAT）的超密集异构网络（HetNet）的设想存在下加剧。在华为和TELUS的支持下，我们将倡导自下而上的方法，开发创新的具有成本效益和频谱/功率效率的收发器设计，资源分配方案和硬件平台架构，这些架构位于PHY和MAC层，是WAV可以实现的基础。在此过程中，我们将采用新颖的能效设计指标，以解决当今随着无线网络和设备的普及而出现的最紧迫的经济、环境和公共健康问题：减少碳排放和射频功率暴露。预计该项目将带来巨大的科学、经济和社会效益，包括：i）推进关键技术领域的科学，使WAV成为可能; ii）促进下一次无线网络革命的到来; iii）协助环境/公共卫生政策; iv）在关键的ICT部门提供高质量的HQP培训。

Virtualization has been proposed as the basis for the next-generation networking paradigm, notably in the future Internet realm. By creating multiple logical networks on a single physical substrate, it offers increased flexibility, manageability and efficiency in terms of resource utilization and energy consumption. Being a decades-old concept in computer science, only recently did it evolve to encompass the creation of virtual networks (VNs) leading to virtual functions such as virtual routers, links, base stations, etc. However, literature on wireless access virtualization (WAV) is still scarce. Some recent major initiatives, despite going great lengths to extend virtualization to wireless networks in a top-down approach from higher to lower layers, remained relatively silent on how to enable WAV at both physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers! The goal of this project is precisely to pioneer and innovate in this ultimate and most challenging front by developing WAV enabling strategies (WAVES) at PHY and MAC layers in the future context of 5th-generation wireless networks. Challenging issues in WAV arising at these layers will be exacerbated in the envisioned presence of ultra-dense heterogeneous networks (HetNet) with multi-tier cells and multiple radio access technologies (multi-RAT). Owing to the support of Huawei and TELUS, we will advocate a bottom-up approach to develop innovative cost-effective and spectrum/power-efficient transceiver designs, resource allocation schemes, and hardware platform architectures that lay - at PHY and MAC layers - the founding grounds over which WAV could be enabled. In doing so, we will adopt novel energy-efficiency design metrics that address the most pressing economic, environmental and public health concerns arising today with the proliferation of wireless networks and devices: the reduction of carbon emissions and RF power exposure. Tremendous scientific, economic and social benefits are expected from this project by i) advancing science in crucial technical areas that enable WAV, ii) facilitating the advent of the next wireless networks revolution, iii) assisting environmental/public health policies, and iv) providing top-quality HQP training in a key ICT sector.