Current wireless networks (4G/5G, WLANs, mmWave, IoT) are employed by a plethora of heterogeneous consumer devices, equipped with the ability to connect to the Internet using a variety of different wireless network technologies. Existing solutions and the lower layers of the OSI stack are unfit to cope with this heterogeneity. For instance, dynamical inter-technology switching is user- or application-based.
What applications want nowadays is network-triggered multi-technology management with capabilities such as packet-level dynamic and intelligent handovers (both inter- and intra-technology), load balancing, replication, and scheduling. In this research track, we explore the management of multi-technology network devices capable to simultaneously leverage different communications technologies, providing highly reliable communication solutions.
Research examples
- Virtual MAC frameworks: This research track aims to perform network-triggered multi-technology management through a Virtual Medium Access Control (VMAC) framework that consists of a controller that is capable of communicating with both existing Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) controllers and with devices containing a newly introduced Virtual MAC layer. This way, applications can be provided with transparent and real-time inter-technology L2 handovers as well as with load balancing, interface bonding and packet duplication capabilities while maintaining one single L3 IP network address.
- Location-aware vertical handovers: IoT devices supporting multiple radio access technologies (Multi-RAT), require energy and resource-efficient mechanisms for discovering the available network technologies in their current location and performing vertical handovers between these technologies. In this research track, we investigate techniques for efficient network discovery and handovers based on the estimated device location. This allows the discovery mechanism to more intelligently decide when to perform the high energy-consuming discovery process as the device moves around.
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Location-aware handover algorithms exploit location information already available in IoT tracking devices to estimate when a handover can be performed, reducing the need for energy-wasting polling or beacon listening. -
Use case example for the use of a Virtual MAC Framework, where three wireless network technologies are used in a multi-service drone scenario. Depending on the network availability, a flexible switching between network technologies is possible.
