Mobility and bandwidth prediction in virtualized LTE systems: Architecture and challenges

Long Term Evolution (LTE) represents the fourth generation (4G) technology which is capable of providing high data rates as well as support of high speed mobility. The EU FP7 Mobile Cloud Networking (MCN) project integrates the use of cloud computing concepts in LTE mobile networks in order to increase LTE's performance. In this way a shared distributed virtualized LTE mobile network is built that can optimize the utilization of virtualized computing, storage and network resources and minimize communication delays. Two important features that can be used in such a virtualized system to improve its performance are the user mobility and bandwidth prediction. This paper introduces the architecture and challenges that are associated with user mobility and bandwidth prediction approaches in virtualized LTE systems.

Tree architecture in a Bornean lowland rain forest: intraspecific and interspecific patterns

Intraspecific and interspecific architectural patterns were studied for eight tree species of a Bornean rain forest. Trees 5--19 m tall in two 4-ha permanent sample plots in primary forest were selected, and three light descriptors and seven architectural traits for each tree were measured. Two general predictions were made: (1) Slow growing individuals (or short ones) encounter lower light, and have flatter crowns, fewer leaf layers, and thinner stems, than do fast growing individuals (or tall ones). (2) Species with higher shade-tolerance receive less light and have flatter crowns, fewer leaf layers, and thinner stems, than do species with lower shade-tolerance. Shade-tolerance is assumed to decrease with maximum growth rate, mortality rate, and adult stature of a species.

Changes in Scleral Architecture in Chronic Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease.

PURPOSE: To describe scleral changes in chronic VKH. METHODS: Medical records of patients with chronic VKH were retrospectively reviewed. Change of scleral architecture was defined as progressive posterior bowing on OCT, axial length elongation, and/or increased myopia more than -1.0 D, not explicable by other etiologies. RESULTS: In total, 28 eyes (16 patients) with mean age of disease onset 32.5 ± 14.0 years were included in the study. Disease duration was 15.1 ± 10.2 years. Eight eyes (28.6%) showed progressive scleral architectural changes. Five eyes (18%) developed scleral changes on OCT, not seen on prior imaging (2-12 years earlier). One eye had posterior bowing on OCT with increased axial length, both eyes of a bilateral pseudophake developed increased myopia with increased axial length. Well-circumscribed chorioretinal atrophy within the arcade was associated with progressive scleral change. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive scleral change may develop as a late complication of VKH. The association with well-circumscribed chorioretinal atrophy suggests that chronic choroidal inflammation may be responsible.

Edge caching with mobility prediction in virtualized LTE mobile networks

Abstract Mobile Edge Computing enables the deployment of services, applications, content storage and processing in close proximity to mobile end users. This highly distributed computing environment can be used to provide ultra-low latency, precise positional awareness and agile applications, which could significantly improve user experience. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to consider next-generation paradigms such as Information-Centric Networking and Cloud Computing, integrated with the upcoming 5th Generation networking access. A cohesive end-to-end architecture is proposed, fully exploiting Information-Centric Networking together with the Mobile Follow-Me Cloud approach, for enhancing the migration of content-caches located at the edge of cloudified mobile networks. The chosen content-relocation algorithm attains content-availability improvements of up to 500 when a mobile user performs a request and compared against other existing solutions. The performed evaluation considers a realistic core-network, with functional and non-functional measurements, including the deployment of the entire system, computation and allocation/migration of resources. The achieved results reveal that the proposed architecture is beneficial not only from the users’ perspective but also from the providers point-of-view, which may be able to optimize their resources and reach significant bandwidth savings.