Page 71 - ITU Journal Future and evolving technologies Volume 3 (2022), Issue 2 – Towards vehicular networks in the 6G era

ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 3 (2022), Issue 2

AN EDGE ABSTRACTION LAYER ENABLING FEDERATED AND HIERARCHICAL ORCHESTRATION OF
CCAM SERVICES IN 5G AND BEYOND NETWORKS

Mauro Femminella , Gianluca Reali
1,2
1,2
1 Dept of Engingeering, University of Perugia, Italy
2 Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (CNIT), Parma, Italy
NOTE: Corresponding author: Mauro Femminella, mauro.femminella@unipg.it

Abstract – This paper shows a flexible orchestration solution for deploying Cooperative, Connected, and
Automated Mobility (CCAM) services in 5G and beyond networks. This solution is based on the concepts of
federation and hierarchy of orchestration functions. The federated approach is leveraged to cope with the
differentiated complexity operation when multiple network operators are considered, whereas the
hierarchical approach addresses the issue of jointly orchestrating multiple edge platforms in the network of
a single operator. In this complex orchestration architecture, the main contribution of this paper consists of
the design and implementation of an Abstraction and Adaptation Layer (AAL) for edge clouds, a new
component enabling a truly cooperative and coordinated orchestration between different edge systems,
characterized by appreciable experimental performance in terms of latency.

Keywords – Beyond 5G networks, CCAM services, delegation of orchestration decisions, federated
orchestration, hierarchical orchestration

1. INTRODUCTION In order to offer CCAM services to vehicles, we
In recent years, the development of hardware and assume to rely on 5G and beyond (B5G)
software technologies that can be used in the design, technologies. In a B5G network, we can identify the
implementation and management of mobile Radio Access Network (RAN), the core network
communication systems has produced new models (5GC), including both control plane and User Plane
for service implementation and deployment. Functions (UPFs), and a transport network
Among these, the general model that is currently interconnecting them. In this architecture, an edge
characterized by a great momentum is that linked to cloud offering MEC services is typically positioned
the use of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC). close to the RAN, in order to offer latency bounded
Essentially, it consists in making use of the services to vehicles. To achieve the desired quality
outermost portions of cloud networks to host from the deployed (vehicular) MEC services, edge
services that can benefit from the proximity resources need to be managed by orchestration
between their deployment site and the users who functions [4], which are the main focus of this paper.
use them. This concept can be applied to a In fact, both network and computing resources in
multiplicity of services, both fixed and mobile, as 5G/B5G are typically virtualized, and network
witnessed by an intense research activity, functions are offered as Virtual Network Functions
illustrated in a dedicated section of this paper. (VNFs) [39] running in both edge and core
environments, since this improves flexibility and
This paper refers to the vehicular environment, deployment agility. The entity managing the
which promises truly disruptive innovations lifecycle of such VNFs is standardized by ETSI under
compared to the services we commonly use [1][2]. the Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
In particular, we consider the so-called Cooperative, Management and Orchestration (MANO) initiative
Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) [38], and called NFV orchestrator (NFVO).
services. This restriction of the focus does not
correspond to a simplification of the issues to be Since the main characteristic of the vehicular
addressed. On the contrary, it significantly environment is mobility, this calls for general
complicates them, as appears from the different scenarios in which multiple network operators can
research directions that have recently been be involved. In particular, this is unavoidable in
identified, as illustrated in the background section. cross-border scenarios, as in the so-called

© International Telecommunication Union, 2022 59