Using UE-VBS for dynamic virtual small cells deployment and backhauling in 5G Ultra-Dense networks

• Published in: Computer networks (Amsterdam, Netherlands : 1999) Vol. 189; p. 107926
• Main Authors: Venkateswararao, Kuna, Swain, Pravati, Christophorou, Christophoros, Pitsillides, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 22-04-2021; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Algorithms; Backhauling; Clustering; Data offload; Infrastructure; Multi-hop; Radio equipment; Relay; Traffic models; UE-based Virtual Base Station (UE-VBS); Ultra-Dense network; Vibration; Virtual small cell; 5G; Ultra-Dense network; Virtual small cell; Multi-hop; Data offload; Backhauling; UE-based Virtual Base Station (UE-VBS)
• ISSN: 1389-1286; 1872-7069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comnet.2021.107926

This paper builds on the UE-based Virtual Base Station (UE-VBS) concept, which enables the Smartphones (i.e., UEs) of the general population to be enhanced with Base Station and Relay Node functionalities and be embedded as an integral part of the Mobile Network Infrastructure, offering relief in stressful or overloaded situations. This paper focuses on the selection process of eligible-UEs that will be activated on-the-fly into UE-VBSs to complement and support the Mobile Network infrastructure, either as virtual small cells (VSCs) or virtual relay nodes (VRNs). We adopt a Modified Affinity Propagation Clustering (MAPC) algorithm to select UE-VBSs to act as VSCs for capacity/data rate expansion in areas where the infrastructure is weak and a more effective and agile network operation is needed. Additionally, to provide for a more spectrum efficient backhauling of mobile data traffic from the VSCs towards the BS, the Multi-hop Load balanced Geographical Path selection (MLGP) algorithm is proposed. The MAPC and MLGP algorithms are implemented and evaluated in MATLAB and also validated using the NS3 network simulator, with mobile data traffic modeled as a non-uniform distribution with respect to the time and space domain. The results demonstrated that the proposed approaches improve the network performance in terms of throughput, delay and jitter.