Title:  Software-Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization for 5G/6G Cellular and Space Communications Systems

Committee: 

Dr. Akyildiz, Advisor    

Dr. Sivakumar, Chair

Dr. Weitnauer

Abstract: The objective of the proposed research is to design novel architectural solutions for 5G/6G cellular and space communications systems with a view to enabling "wireless ubiquity" with software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) at its core. As societal needs continue to evolve, there has been a marked rise in a wide variety of emerging use cases that cannot be served adequately by existing networks. For example, increasing industrial automation has not only resulted in a massive rise in the number of connected devices, but has also brought forth the need for remote monitoring and reconnaissance at scale, often in remote locations characterized by a lack of connectivity options. Going beyond 5G, which has largely focused on enhancing the quality-of-experience for end devices, the concept of wireless ubiquity mandates that the quality of connectivity is not only determined by classical metrics such as throughput, reliability, and latency, but also by the level of coverage offered by the network. In other words, the next generation of wireless communication should be characterized by networks that exhibit high throughput and reliability with low latency, while also providing robust connectivity to a multitude of devices spread across the surface of the Earth, without any geographical constraints. In this proposal, we establish the architectural foundations for SDN and NFV-based cellular and space communications systems. In particular, we first introduce a novel system architecture centered around the unified cellular network concept, complete with component-level details and several innovations such as the AirHYPE radio virtualization paradigm and the ServiceBRIDGE management and orchestration component. Then, we develop a robust analytical characterization for designing our proposed architecture's radio access network related functionality based on software-defined mobility management. Finally, moving over to the space communications domain, we introduce the concept of the Internet of Space Things, a cyber-physical system offering ubiquitous connectivity for a wide variety of use cases, ranging from monitoring and reconnaissance to in-space backhauling.