This work presents a method for estimating key quality indicators (KQIs) from measurements gather... more This work presents a method for estimating key quality indicators (KQIs) from measurements gathered at the nodes of a wireless network. The procedure employs multivariate adaptive filtering and a clustering algorithm to produce a KQI time-series suitable for post-processing by the network management system. The framework design, aimed to be applied to 5G and 6G systems, can cope with a nonstationary environment, allow fast and online training, and provide flexibility for its implementation. The concept’s feasibility was evaluated using measurements collected from a live heterogeneous network, and initial results were compared to other linear regression techniques. Suggestions for modifications in the algorithms are also described, as well as directions for future research.
Over time, load balancing systems in cellular networks have been key to avoiding overload problem... more Over time, load balancing systems in cellular networks have been key to avoiding overload problems in the network and to maintaining a correct resource allocation and performance. However, the classical approaches were not designed for the dynamism generated by user behavior. The big crowds of users at certain social venues are one of the main concerns of mobile operators due to the load imbalance generated. Additionally, the mobility of users who attend social events (e.g., sports events, concerts, etc.) greatly impacts network performance due to its high correlation with network traffic. The availability to inform about events, particularly regarding venue location (e.g., stadiums, concert halls, convention centers) is exponentially growing thanks to its proliferation in social networks through geolocation databases and other functionalities. Therefore, the present work proposes a novel load balancing system integrating a fuzzy logic controller algorithm with social-awareness, whi...
2020 European Conference on Networks and Communications (EuCNC), 2020
Location information and context-awareness are essential for a variety of existing and emerging 5... more Location information and context-awareness are essential for a variety of existing and emerging 5G-based applications. Nevertheless, navigation satellite systems are denied in in-door environments, current cellular systems fail to provide high-accuracy localization, and other local localization technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) imply high deployment, maintenance and integration costs. Raw spatiotemporal data are not sufficient by themselves and need to be integrated with tools for the analysis of the behavior of physical targets, to extract relevant features of interests. In this paper, we present LOCUS, an H2020 project (https://www.locus-project.eu/) funded by the European Commission, aiming at the design and implementation of an innovative location management layered platform which will be able to: i) improve localization accuracy, close to theoretical bounds, as well as localization security and privacy, ii) extend localization with physical analytics, iii) extract value o...
Cloud Gaming is a cutting-edge paradigm in the video game provision where the graphics rendering ... more Cloud Gaming is a cutting-edge paradigm in the video game provision where the graphics rendering and logic are computed in the cloud. This allows a user’s thin client systems with much more limited capabilities to offer a comparable experience with traditional local and online gaming but using reduced hardware requirements. In contrast, this approach stresses the communication networks between the client and the cloud. In this context, it is necessary to know how to configure the network in order to provide service with the best quality. To that end, the present work defines a novel framework for Cloud Gaming performance evaluation. This system is implemented in a real testbed and evaluates the Cloud Gaming approach for different transport networks (Ethernet, WiFi, and LTE (Long Term Evolution)) and scenarios, automating the acquisition of the gaming metrics. From this, the impact on the overall gaming experience is analyzed identifying the main parameters involved in its performanc...
The high increase of people using mobile networks added to high influx situations, events such as... more The high increase of people using mobile networks added to high influx situations, events such as, concerts or football matches occur, have been causing trouble with the management of those networks, causing a reduction of quality for the user. In this article it is exposed the bad effects of this events and linking them up with the final quality of the user in different experiments that will also be explained. Analyzing data from certain LTE nodes located in Lerkendal Stadium in Norway, we have been able to appreciate that problems. Recognising when the change of quality is caused and how it behaves is the first step to make a solution that improves the situation ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was partially supported by the Universidad de Málaga through the I Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Málaga.
At present, climate change, pollution, and uncontrolled urbanism threaten not only natural ecosys... more At present, climate change, pollution, and uncontrolled urbanism threaten not only natural ecosystems, but also the urban environment. Approaches to mitigate these challenges and able to provide an alternative for the use of the space are deemed to be multidisciplinary, combining architecture, vegetation integration, circular economy and information and communications technologies (ICT). University campuses are a key scenario to evaluate such solutions as their student and research community is intrinsically willing to support these experiences and provide a wide knowledge on the fields necessary for their design and implementation. However, the creation of areas combining usability and sustainability is commonly lacking a multidisciplinary approach combining all these different perspectives. Hence, the present work aims to overcome this limitation by the development of a novel integrated approach for campus spaces for co-working and leisure, namely a “Smart Tree”, where novel archi...
Although log processing of network equipment is a common technique in cellular network management... more Although log processing of network equipment is a common technique in cellular network management, several factors make said task challenging, especially during mass attendance events. The present paper assesses classic methods for cellular network measurement and acquisition, showing how the use of on-the-field user probes can provide relevant capabilities to the analysis of cellular network performance. Therefore, a framework for the deployment of this kind of system is proposed here based on the development of a new hardware virtualization platform with radio frequency capabilities. Accordingly, an analysis of the characteristics and requirements for the use of virtual probes was performed. Moreover, the impact that social events (e.g., sports matches) may have on the service provision was evaluated through a real cellular scenario. For this purpose, a long-term measurement study during crowded events (i.e., football matches) in a stadium has been conducted, and the performances ...
The rapid proliferation of user devices with access to mobile broadband has been a challenge from... more The rapid proliferation of user devices with access to mobile broadband has been a challenge from both the operation and deployment points of view. With the incorporation of new services with high demand for bandwidth such as video in 4K, it has been deemed necessary to expand the existing capacity by including new bands, among which the unlicensed 5-GHz band is a very promising candidate. The operation of future 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) mobile network standards deployments in this band implies the coexistence with other technologies such as WiFi, which is widespread. In this context, the provision of Quality of Service (QoS) or Quality of Experience (QoE) becomes an essential asset and is a challenge that has yet to be overcome. In this sense, 3GPP has proposed a traffic prioritization method based on the Listen Before Talk access parameters, defining a series of priorities. However, it does not specify how to make use of them, and even less so in potentially con...
Recent years have seen the proliferation of different techniques for outdoor and, especially, ind... more Recent years have seen the proliferation of different techniques for outdoor and, especially, indoor positioning. Still being a field in development, localization is expected to be fully pervasive in the next few years. Although the development of such techniques is driven by the commercialization of location-based services (e.g., navigation), its application to support cellular management is considered to be a key approach for improving its resilience and performance. When different approaches have been defined for integrating location information into the failure management activities, they commonly ignore the increase in the dimensionality of the data as well as their integration into the complete flow of networks failure management. Taking this into account, the present work proposes a complete integrated approach for location-aware failure management, covering the gathering of network and positioning data, the generation of metrics, the reduction in the dimensionality of such d...
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking
During the last few years, mobile communication networks have experienced a huge evolution. This ... more During the last few years, mobile communication networks have experienced a huge evolution. This evolution culminates with the arrival of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication networks. As a result, the complexity of network management tasks has been increasing and the need to use automatic management algorithms has been demonstrated. However, many mobile network operators (MNOs) are reluctant to evaluate these algorithms in their networks. To address this issue, in this paper, a modeling approach is proposed. In this sense, the behavior of a commercial network, as it is perceived by user equipments (UEs), has been replicated in a research testbed using a three-step modeling process. The first step consists on performing a measurement campaign in several external networks. The second step is composed of the measurement campaign result analysis and the classification of the results in different types of scenarios. Finally, the third step is related to the application of a...
For the past few years, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been a recurrent view of ... more For the past few years, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been a recurrent view of the technological environment where nearly every object is expected to be connected to the network. This infrastructure will progressively allow one to monitor and efficiently manage the environment. Until recent years, the IoT applications have been constrained by the limited computational capacity and especially by efficient communications, but the emergence of new communication technologies allows us to overcome most of these issues. This situation paves the way for the fulfillment of the Smart-City concept, where the cities become a fully efficient, monitored, and managed environment able to sustain the increasing needs of its citizens and achieve environmental goals and challenges. However, many Smart-City approaches still require testing and study for their full development and adoption. To facilitate this, the university of Málaga made the commitment to investigate and innovate th...
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking
The use of unlicensed bands is one of the most promising features envisaged to increase capacity ... more The use of unlicensed bands is one of the most promising features envisaged to increase capacity in 5G. However, this poses multiple challenges associated with the operation when coexisting networks are present, such as WiFi. Previous coexistence analyses have been focused on the user-plane data-related transmissions and mainly based on abstract models. Meanwhile, the effects of the shared channel signaling defined by the standards have been mostly disregarded, particularly for ultra-dense scenarios. This paper assesses how the shared data channel signaling mechanisms influence the performance of the coexisting technologies operating unlicensed bands in indoor environments. Based on this analysis, some DRS signaling modifications are envisaged to additionally enhance the service provision and fairness towards WiFi in these scenarios.
This work presents a method for estimating key quality indicators (KQIs) from measurements gather... more This work presents a method for estimating key quality indicators (KQIs) from measurements gathered at the nodes of a wireless network. The procedure employs multivariate adaptive filtering and a clustering algorithm to produce a KQI time-series suitable for post-processing by the network management system. The framework design, aimed to be applied to 5G and 6G systems, can cope with a nonstationary environment, allow fast and online training, and provide flexibility for its implementation. The concept’s feasibility was evaluated using measurements collected from a live heterogeneous network, and initial results were compared to other linear regression techniques. Suggestions for modifications in the algorithms are also described, as well as directions for future research.
Over time, load balancing systems in cellular networks have been key to avoiding overload problem... more Over time, load balancing systems in cellular networks have been key to avoiding overload problems in the network and to maintaining a correct resource allocation and performance. However, the classical approaches were not designed for the dynamism generated by user behavior. The big crowds of users at certain social venues are one of the main concerns of mobile operators due to the load imbalance generated. Additionally, the mobility of users who attend social events (e.g., sports events, concerts, etc.) greatly impacts network performance due to its high correlation with network traffic. The availability to inform about events, particularly regarding venue location (e.g., stadiums, concert halls, convention centers) is exponentially growing thanks to its proliferation in social networks through geolocation databases and other functionalities. Therefore, the present work proposes a novel load balancing system integrating a fuzzy logic controller algorithm with social-awareness, whi...
2020 European Conference on Networks and Communications (EuCNC), 2020
Location information and context-awareness are essential for a variety of existing and emerging 5... more Location information and context-awareness are essential for a variety of existing and emerging 5G-based applications. Nevertheless, navigation satellite systems are denied in in-door environments, current cellular systems fail to provide high-accuracy localization, and other local localization technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) imply high deployment, maintenance and integration costs. Raw spatiotemporal data are not sufficient by themselves and need to be integrated with tools for the analysis of the behavior of physical targets, to extract relevant features of interests. In this paper, we present LOCUS, an H2020 project (https://www.locus-project.eu/) funded by the European Commission, aiming at the design and implementation of an innovative location management layered platform which will be able to: i) improve localization accuracy, close to theoretical bounds, as well as localization security and privacy, ii) extend localization with physical analytics, iii) extract value o...
Cloud Gaming is a cutting-edge paradigm in the video game provision where the graphics rendering ... more Cloud Gaming is a cutting-edge paradigm in the video game provision where the graphics rendering and logic are computed in the cloud. This allows a user’s thin client systems with much more limited capabilities to offer a comparable experience with traditional local and online gaming but using reduced hardware requirements. In contrast, this approach stresses the communication networks between the client and the cloud. In this context, it is necessary to know how to configure the network in order to provide service with the best quality. To that end, the present work defines a novel framework for Cloud Gaming performance evaluation. This system is implemented in a real testbed and evaluates the Cloud Gaming approach for different transport networks (Ethernet, WiFi, and LTE (Long Term Evolution)) and scenarios, automating the acquisition of the gaming metrics. From this, the impact on the overall gaming experience is analyzed identifying the main parameters involved in its performanc...
The high increase of people using mobile networks added to high influx situations, events such as... more The high increase of people using mobile networks added to high influx situations, events such as, concerts or football matches occur, have been causing trouble with the management of those networks, causing a reduction of quality for the user. In this article it is exposed the bad effects of this events and linking them up with the final quality of the user in different experiments that will also be explained. Analyzing data from certain LTE nodes located in Lerkendal Stadium in Norway, we have been able to appreciate that problems. Recognising when the change of quality is caused and how it behaves is the first step to make a solution that improves the situation ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was partially supported by the Universidad de Málaga through the I Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Málaga.
At present, climate change, pollution, and uncontrolled urbanism threaten not only natural ecosys... more At present, climate change, pollution, and uncontrolled urbanism threaten not only natural ecosystems, but also the urban environment. Approaches to mitigate these challenges and able to provide an alternative for the use of the space are deemed to be multidisciplinary, combining architecture, vegetation integration, circular economy and information and communications technologies (ICT). University campuses are a key scenario to evaluate such solutions as their student and research community is intrinsically willing to support these experiences and provide a wide knowledge on the fields necessary for their design and implementation. However, the creation of areas combining usability and sustainability is commonly lacking a multidisciplinary approach combining all these different perspectives. Hence, the present work aims to overcome this limitation by the development of a novel integrated approach for campus spaces for co-working and leisure, namely a “Smart Tree”, where novel archi...
Although log processing of network equipment is a common technique in cellular network management... more Although log processing of network equipment is a common technique in cellular network management, several factors make said task challenging, especially during mass attendance events. The present paper assesses classic methods for cellular network measurement and acquisition, showing how the use of on-the-field user probes can provide relevant capabilities to the analysis of cellular network performance. Therefore, a framework for the deployment of this kind of system is proposed here based on the development of a new hardware virtualization platform with radio frequency capabilities. Accordingly, an analysis of the characteristics and requirements for the use of virtual probes was performed. Moreover, the impact that social events (e.g., sports matches) may have on the service provision was evaluated through a real cellular scenario. For this purpose, a long-term measurement study during crowded events (i.e., football matches) in a stadium has been conducted, and the performances ...
The rapid proliferation of user devices with access to mobile broadband has been a challenge from... more The rapid proliferation of user devices with access to mobile broadband has been a challenge from both the operation and deployment points of view. With the incorporation of new services with high demand for bandwidth such as video in 4K, it has been deemed necessary to expand the existing capacity by including new bands, among which the unlicensed 5-GHz band is a very promising candidate. The operation of future 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) mobile network standards deployments in this band implies the coexistence with other technologies such as WiFi, which is widespread. In this context, the provision of Quality of Service (QoS) or Quality of Experience (QoE) becomes an essential asset and is a challenge that has yet to be overcome. In this sense, 3GPP has proposed a traffic prioritization method based on the Listen Before Talk access parameters, defining a series of priorities. However, it does not specify how to make use of them, and even less so in potentially con...
Recent years have seen the proliferation of different techniques for outdoor and, especially, ind... more Recent years have seen the proliferation of different techniques for outdoor and, especially, indoor positioning. Still being a field in development, localization is expected to be fully pervasive in the next few years. Although the development of such techniques is driven by the commercialization of location-based services (e.g., navigation), its application to support cellular management is considered to be a key approach for improving its resilience and performance. When different approaches have been defined for integrating location information into the failure management activities, they commonly ignore the increase in the dimensionality of the data as well as their integration into the complete flow of networks failure management. Taking this into account, the present work proposes a complete integrated approach for location-aware failure management, covering the gathering of network and positioning data, the generation of metrics, the reduction in the dimensionality of such d...
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking
During the last few years, mobile communication networks have experienced a huge evolution. This ... more During the last few years, mobile communication networks have experienced a huge evolution. This evolution culminates with the arrival of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile communication networks. As a result, the complexity of network management tasks has been increasing and the need to use automatic management algorithms has been demonstrated. However, many mobile network operators (MNOs) are reluctant to evaluate these algorithms in their networks. To address this issue, in this paper, a modeling approach is proposed. In this sense, the behavior of a commercial network, as it is perceived by user equipments (UEs), has been replicated in a research testbed using a three-step modeling process. The first step consists on performing a measurement campaign in several external networks. The second step is composed of the measurement campaign result analysis and the classification of the results in different types of scenarios. Finally, the third step is related to the application of a...
For the past few years, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been a recurrent view of ... more For the past few years, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been a recurrent view of the technological environment where nearly every object is expected to be connected to the network. This infrastructure will progressively allow one to monitor and efficiently manage the environment. Until recent years, the IoT applications have been constrained by the limited computational capacity and especially by efficient communications, but the emergence of new communication technologies allows us to overcome most of these issues. This situation paves the way for the fulfillment of the Smart-City concept, where the cities become a fully efficient, monitored, and managed environment able to sustain the increasing needs of its citizens and achieve environmental goals and challenges. However, many Smart-City approaches still require testing and study for their full development and adoption. To facilitate this, the university of Málaga made the commitment to investigate and innovate th...
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking
The use of unlicensed bands is one of the most promising features envisaged to increase capacity ... more The use of unlicensed bands is one of the most promising features envisaged to increase capacity in 5G. However, this poses multiple challenges associated with the operation when coexisting networks are present, such as WiFi. Previous coexistence analyses have been focused on the user-plane data-related transmissions and mainly based on abstract models. Meanwhile, the effects of the shared channel signaling defined by the standards have been mostly disregarded, particularly for ultra-dense scenarios. This paper assesses how the shared data channel signaling mechanisms influence the performance of the coexisting technologies operating unlicensed bands in indoor environments. Based on this analysis, some DRS signaling modifications are envisaged to additionally enhance the service provision and fairness towards WiFi in these scenarios.
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