Mixing MACs: An Introduction to Hybrid Radio Wireless Virtualization

Download Full PDF        |     ArXiv pub page

Abstract— This study presents the design of the hybrid wireless virtualization (HWV) controller based network architecture. Using a HWV controller, an unified approach can be taken for provisioning and management of virtualized heterogeneous radios, irrespective of their MAC and PHY layer mechanisms. It is shown that the airtime occupancy by transmissions from different slices or groups can be used as a single metric for tying these virtualized platforms. 

This paper discusses the architecture for doing a "network function virtualization" for wireless networks. An application for such virtualization of the radio architecture fits in directly with the neutral hosting concept being suggested in 5G wireless networks.

Hybrid Wireless Virtualization Architecture

This project presents the design of the hybrid wireless virtualization (HWV) controller based network architecture. Using a HWV controller, an unified approach can be taken for provisioning and management of virtualized heterogeneous radios, irrespective of their MAC and PHY mechanisms. It is shown that the airtime occupancy by transmissions from different slices or groups can be used as a single metric for tying these virtualized platforms.

Multiuser support in WLANs versus Cellular networks

About a year back I was reading about the physical layer design of 802.11ac networks, and I started wondering about what would be the similarities or differences between cutting edge cellular networks and WiFi networks. The reason I started thinking about this is because cellular networks seem to be gradually moving towards smaller cells (nano-cell, pico-cell designs), which are similar in RF footprint to regular WLANs.