Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The next generation (5G) wireless network is expected to accommodate a wide range of emerging services with diverse service quality requirements, such as in machine-to-machine communication, internet of things, vehicular communications, and smart grid. The network will integrate a variety of network resources and technologies to support high transmission rate and to enhance quality of experience to mobile users. The traditional one-size-fits-all network architecture cannot efficiently meet the needs of different services, due to the poor scalability, limited adaptability, and inflexibility. This research project is to investigate and develop new engineering solutions for an agile and flexible networking infrastructure for the 5G systems, by exploiting the concept of software defined networking. We will focus on a dedicated virtually layered network architecture to efficiently support mobile communications in the future 5G network. In particular, we will define virtual network topology, investigate how to embody a virtual network to the physical network and how to adapt to the data traffic load dynamics, and develop novel networking protocols to ensure service quality in end-to-end data transport and to efficiently utilize network resources. The project will generate new ideas and techniques which will provide significant benefits to Canadian users and telecom industry. Pursued in close collaboration with corporate industrial sponsor Huawei Technologies, the research is expected to make important contributions to the development of future information and communication technology. Six graduate students and three postdoctoral fellows, together with undergraduate students, will develop the latest innovations in wireless communication networking systems, emerging as expert additions to the Canadian high technology industry labor force.