Network Coding function virtualization

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Network Coding (NC) have attracted much attention in recent years as key concepts for 5G networks to provide flexibility and substantial gains in throughput and reliability, respectively. In this paper, we propose the integration of NC and NFV architectural designs. Specifically, a toolbox of NC functionalities are identified so that NC can be designed as a virtual network function that provides flow engineering functionalities to the network. In order to do so we first identify NC layer-independent architectural design domains, which we then map to the NFV framework. Our resulting virtual network coding functionality (VNCF) can be used by the network to engineer the throughput and reliability of multiple information network flows depending on the ultimate service operational intent. We apply our proposed VNCF to a study case where the network uses databases with geo-tagged link statistics on the wireless highways created by percolation to engineer information flows. Our results provide a two-fold validation of our proposal. First, we show how VNCF allows the network to have full control over the throughput, reliability and connectivity up to theoretical limits. Second, we show how NCF virtualization (NCFV) allows the same functionality to apply over different underlying physical networks, including satellite or hybrid thus enabling softwarization and rapid innovative deployment