Abstract.-This paper addresses the use of Radio Environment Maps (REMs) to support interference management optimization in heterogeneous networks composed of cells of different sizes and including both cellular and non-cellular (e.g., Wi-Fi) technologies. After presenting a general architecture for including REM databases in different network entities, the paper analyzes the achievable benefits in relation to specific interference management techniques, including a discussion on practical considerations such as information exchange requirements, REM ownership and security aspects. Finally, several research directions derived from the proposed framework are identified.
Network slicing is a fundamental feature of 5G systems to partition a single network into a number of segregated logical networks, each optimized for a particular type of service, or dedicated to a particular customer or application. The realization of network slicing is particularly challenging in the Radio Access Network (RAN) part, where multiple slices can be multiplexed over the same radio channel and Radio Resource Management (RRM) functions shall be used to split the cell radio resources and achieve the expected behaviour per slice. In this context, this paper describes the key design and implementation aspects of a Software-Defined RAN (SD-RAN) experimental testbed with slicing support. The testbed has been designed consistently with the slicing capabilities and related management framework established by 3GPP in Release 15. The testbed is used to demonstrate the provisioning of RAN slices (e.g. preparation, commissioning and activation phases) and the operation of the implemented RRM functionality for slice-aware admission control and scheduling.
Radio Environmental Map (REM) is a useful tool to visualize the network coverage, including signal quality and interference, in multi-cell scenarios. Although REM maps for omnidirectional transmissions/receptions and tools to visualize the spatial shape of a single directional transmission are available in ns-3, for example in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiGig modules, respectively, REM maps for directional transmissions/receptions in multi-cell scenarios are not available yet, despite the fact that they constitute an extremely useful tool for the beam design phase in complex realistic settings. In this paper, we present a REM map implementation that includes various REM map definitions for multi-cell scenarios with directional transmissions/receptions. This includes Beam Shape REM maps, in which a pre-configured beam at each transmitting device is used, and Coverage Area REM maps, in which a worst-case propagation scenario is considered for each location, assuming the worst-case directional interference towards each point of reception of the REM map. We particularize REM maps for Downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL) communications, as well as for heterogeneous networks and scenarios with blockages originated by the surrounding environment. Finally, we present multiple illustrative images as examples of each of the possible REM maps that can be extracted with the newly developed tool. The work presented in this paper is publicly available in the 5G-LENA module.
CCS CONCEPTS• Networks → Network simulations; Mobile networks.
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