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NS-ENFORCER: Enforcing Network Slicing on Radio Access Networks

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Abstract

Network Slicing is a key technology of 5G mobile systems. This technology enables operators to create customized logical networks on the same physical substrate in order to support different services and vertical industries, such as public safety and entertainment. In this paper we present NS-ENFORCER, a dynamic slicing mechanism for 4G/5G Radio Access Networks. NS-ENFORCER receives slicing rules from an SDN Controller. Based on these rules and the network state, NS-ENFORCER dynamically assigns spectrum resources to slices, and performs slicing in both downlink and uplink communication channels. Such assignment procedure is supported by a novel allocation model proposed in this work. The performance evaluation of NS-ENFORCER was carried out using a scenario having different types of applications and mobility of devices. The results show the benefits that can be achieved with NS-ENFORCER, such as the improvement of the QoS experienced by end users.

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Funding

This work was financed by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. The paper is also financed by national funds through the FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project CISUC—UID/CEC/00326/2020 and by European Social Fund, through the Regional Operational Program Centro 2020. Furthermore, it is funded by the project OREOS (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-049029), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), through Portugal 2020 (PT2020), and by the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Computing, UNICAMP, Av. Albert Einstein, Campinas, 13083-852, São Paulo, Brazil

    Pedro Rezende & Edmundo Madeira

  2. Department of Informatics Engineerings, University of Coimbra, Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra, Miguel Bombarda, Coimbra, 3030-790, Região do Centro, Portugal

    Marilia Curado

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  1. Pedro Rezende
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  2. Marilia Curado
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  3. Edmundo Madeira
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Contributions

PR: Design of the work, implementation, data analysis and wrote the paper. MC and EM: Design of the work, manuscript review and approved the manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to Pedro Rezende.

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Rezende, P., Curado, M. & Madeira, E. NS-ENFORCER: Enforcing Network Slicing on Radio Access Networks. J Netw Syst Manage 31, 30 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10922-023-09721-8

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