Project

The convergence of Information Technologies (IT) and telecommunication networking paves the way to an entire world of new services. In particular, a very recent key transformation is represented by Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), a very effective way to bring cloud services at the edge of mobile networks. At the same time, millimeter-wave (mmWave) technologies are identified as one of the key enablers of 5G, because of their very high data rate and effectiveness in handling interference.

The main goal of the 5G-MiEdge project is to develop a highly innovative 5G architecture, MiEdge. It  combines mmWave access/backhauling with MEC to enable enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services and mission critical low-latency applications via cost-efficient Radio Access Networks (RANs). To achieve this goal, 5G-MiEdge will define an ultra-lean and inter-operable control signaling, which we name liquid RAN C-plane, capable of providing ubiquitous liquid allocation of communication/computation resources, within a user/application-centric perspective. Acquisition of context information and forecasting of service requests are key steps to enable a proactive orchestration of radio and computation resources of 5G-MiEdge based 5G networks.

RESEARCH GOAL

MiEdge, Millimeter-Wave Edge Cloud, is composed of the following key technologies.

    1. mmWave Access & Backhaul: Develop transmission schemes and protocols of mmWave access/backhauling aimed to assist the mobile edge cloud with caching/prefetching so as to realize ultra-high speed and low latency service delivery, resilient to network bottlenecks, such as e.g. backhaul congestion, users’ density, mission-critical service deployment, assuming three target scenarios: stadium, office, and train/station.
      illustration_project
    2. Liquid RAN C-plane: Develop novel ultra-lean and inter-operable control signaling over 3GPP LTE to provide liquid ubiquitous coverage in 5G networks based on acquisition of context information and forecasting of traffic requirements, in order to enable a proactive orchestration of communication/computation resources of the mmWave edge cloud.
    3. User/Application Centric Orchestration: Develop user/application centric orchestration algorithms and protocols to adapt radio and computation resources of mmWave edge cloud in 5G networks by utilizing traffic forecast provided by liquid RAN C-plane to enable self-organized and proactive reservation of the resources and satisfy low-latency service requirements.

WORK PACKAGE

Work package 1

Scenario/use cases, business model, and 5G architecture and ecosystem

This Work Package (WP) defines the use cases, scenarios, and an extended 5G architecture and derives related requirements to be worked out in the other WPs. Also it analyses the impact of the project on the existing business models in the wireless communication markets.

Work Package 2

Millimeter-wave edge cloud for 5G RAN deployment paradigm

WP2 develops not only mmWave physical layer design, but also sophisticated resource allocation (including MIMO and coordinated beamforming), ultra lean signaling/control plane for mmWave AP management, mmWave AP deployment design etc. In addition, in order to efficiently use the capacity of mmWave access for mobile users, mmWave backhauling with caching/prefetching must be developed.

Work Package 3

Design of 5G liquid edge cloud for user/application centric orchestration

WP3 develops a new interoperable control plane and control signaling to support multi-layer and multi-connectivity. Moreover, edge computing is supposed to be deployed with prefetching and caching functions to deliver desired contents to user terminals with low latency. Therefore, a new control plane is also required to support on-target delivery of contents between users and edge cloud.

Work Package 4

5G System Evaluation and Proof of Concept

The outputs of WP2 and WP3 will be combined within this WP to provide a proof of concept in respect to the scenarios and use cases defined in WP1. This WP includes 5G system performance evaluation of the enhanced by the MiEdge concepts using system level simulation tools and real world field tests in the 5G Berlin Testbed for indoor and outdoor.

Work Package 5

Standardization, spectrum regulation, dissemination and exploitation

This WP concentrates on the dissemination and exploitation of the project results and contributes to standardization.

Work Package 6

Project management

WP6 includes all the specific functions assigned to the Project Coordinator and the Technical Manager to ensure that the project successfully achieves its stated objectives on time, within budget, and with the expected high level of quality of the technology developed.

workpagages_project

 

Related Works

Tropic (2012 – 2015)
http://www.ict-tropic.eu/
MiWEBA (2013 – 2016)
http://www.miweba.eu/
5G!Pagoda (2016 – 2019)
http://www.5g-pagoda.eu/

Co-funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 and Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

© 5G-MiEdge, All rights reserved.

Publishing Notes