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模式的基础，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、可管理性和效率。作为计算机科学中的一个几十年前的概念，它直到最近才发展到包括虚拟网络(VNS)的创建，从而产生虚拟路由器、链路、基站等虚拟功能。然而，关于无线接入虚拟化(WAV)的文献仍然很少。尽管最近的一些重大举措不遗余力地以自上而下的方式从较高层到较低层将虚拟化扩展到无线网络，但对于如何在物理层(PHY)和媒体访问控制(MAC)层启用WAV，它们相对保持沉默！该项目的目标正是通过在未来的第五代无线网络环境中开发物理层和MAC层的WAV使能策略(WAVE)，在这一终极和最具挑战性的战线上开拓和创新。在具有多层小区和多无线电接入技术(多RAT)的超高密度异质网络(HetNet)的设想存在下，在这些层产生的wav中的挑战性问题将会加剧。在华为和TELUS的支持下，我们将倡导自下而上的方法，开发具有成本效益和频谱/功率效率的创新收发器设计、资源分配方案和硬件平台架构，这些架构位于物理层和MAC层，是启用WAV的基础。为此，我们将采用新的能效设计指标，以解决当今无线网络和设备激增带来的最紧迫的经济、环境和公共健康问题：减少碳排放和射频功率暴露。预计该项目将从以下方面获得巨大的科学、经济和社会效益：i)推动关键技术领域的科学进步，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；以及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.