Deploying CPU-Intensive Applications on MEC in NFV Systems: The Immersive Video Use Case

Abstract

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) will be a technology pillar of forthcoming 5G networks. Nonetheless, there is a great interest in also deploying MEC solutions in current 4G infrastructures. MEC enables data processing in proximity to end users. Thus, latency can be minimized, high data rates locally achieved, and real-time information about radio link status or consumer geographical position exploited to develop high-value services. To consolidate network elements and edge applications on the same virtualization infrastructure, network operators aim to combine MEC with Network Function Virtualization (NFV). However, MEC in NFV integration is not fully established yet: in fact, various architectural issues are currently open, even at standardization level. This paper describes a novel MEC in an NFV system which successfully combines, at management level, MEC functional blocks with an NFV Orchestrator, and can neutrally support any “over the top” Mobile Edge application with minimal integration effort. A specific ME app combined with an end-user app for the provision of immersive video services is presented. To provide low latency, CPU-intensive services to end users, the proposed architecture exploits High-Performance Computing resources embedded in the edge infrastructure. Experimental results showing the effectiveness of the proposed architecture are reported and discussed.