Network slicing in future mobile networks: from the Core Network to the Radio Access Network

未来的移动网络，包括5G和6G，被设想为多业务网络，为各种垂直市场提供支持。相应的用例具有高度异构和多样化的需求。现有的移动网络技术缺乏灵活性，无法适应这些用例。因此，网络切片最近成为解决这一挑战的关键概念。它支持在每个服务的基础上，在单个物理网络之上创建由逻辑网络组成的网络片，同时考虑它们各自的需求。在过去的几年中，网络切片在文献中受到了极大的关注。然而，实现基于切片的网络的愿景在今天仍然不是一个容易实现的目标。在本提案中，我的目标是为这一方向的持续研究工作做出贡献，并解决以下问题：I)如何为网络切片实现有效的端到端资源分配？ii)如何为评估网络切片解决方案创建现实的流量模型？iii)如何设计满足网络切片需求的端到端网络切片架构？iv)如何在网络切片中管理终端设备的移动性？上述问题要么在文献中没有得到解答，要么相应的调查仍然非常有限。在这一建议中，我打算以分析和务实的方式回答这些问题。对于算法任务，我们将使用数学优化工具来建模问题，我们将设计和评估适当的算法来解决它。对于流量分析任务，我们将使用流量轨迹来提取相关信息并建立真实的流量模型。最后，对于架构任务，我们将依赖于一组定义好的需求和用例来设计系统架构。将考虑基于模拟和基于实验的评估。这一提议意在对不同层面产生影响。首先，该项目将有助于培养未来移动网络领域的高素质专家。我计划与4名学生组成的团队进行这项工作，他们将获得学术和工业职业所需的丰富的技术和软技能。第二，团队将致力于一个热门的研究课题，并计划在顶级场馆发表我们的研究成果。此外，我们的工作成果可用于为未来移动网络的实际实现制定指导方针。这些解决方案可以为移动运营商提供更高的利润，使切片租户能够提供增值服务，并为最终用户提供更好的服务质量。第三，电信业为加拿大经济提供了非常好的发展机会。通过对最新技术的研究，我们的理论和应用研究工作将进一步帮助促进这一领域的发展。

Future mobile networks, including 5G and 6G, are envisioned to be multi-service networks providing support for various vertical markets. Corresponding use cases have highly heterogeneous and diverse requirements. Existing mobile network technologies lack the flexibility that allows them to accommodate these use cases. As a result, network slicing has recently emerged as a key concept that allows tackling this challenge. It does so by enabling the creation of network slices, consisting of logical networks, on top of a single physical network, on a per-service basis, while considering their respective requirements. Network slicing has received significant attention over the past few years in the literature. Yet, realizing the vision of a slicing-based network remains far from being an easy goal to achieve today. In this proposal, I aim to contribute to ongoing research efforts in this direction and to address the following questions: i) How to enable an efficient end-to-end resource allocation for network slices? ii) How to create realistic traffic models for the evaluation of network slicing solutions? iii) How to design an end-to-end network slicing architecture that satisfies network-slicing requirements? iv) How to manage end devices mobility in network slices? The questions above are either left unanswered in the literature or corresponding investigations remain very limited. In this proposal, I aim to answer these questions, while employing analytical and pragmatic approaches. For algorithmic tasks, we will use mathematical optimization tools to model the problem, and we will design and evaluate proper algorithms to solve it. For traffic analysis tasks, we will be employing traffic traces to extract relevant information and build realistic traffic models. Finally, for architectural tasks, we will be relying on a set of defined requirements and use cases to design the system architecture. Both simulation-based and experimentation-based evaluations will be considered. This proposal is meant to have an impact at different levels. First, the project will help form highly qualified experts in future mobile networks. I plan to conduct the work with a team of 4 students who will acquire a rich set of technical and soft skills, needed for academic and industrial careers. Second, the team will be contributing to a hot research topic, with the plan of publishing the outcome of our research in top-tier venues. In addition, the outcome of our work can be used to derive guidelines for real-world implementations of future mobile networks. These solutions can offer higher profits for mobile operators, enable slice tenants to provide value-added services and offer end-users a better quality of service. Third, the telecommunications industry holds very promising development opportunities for Canada's economy. Our theoretical and applied research work will further help foster the growth of this sector, with investigations on latest technologies.