Simulated view of SDN based multicasting over D2D enabled heterogeneous cellular networks

In order to provide high quality multimedia services to a number of cellular users in a heterogeneous network, multicasting is a promising mechanism transmitting the content in a spectrally efficient way. To further enhance the heterogeneous spectrum utilization, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication can be enabled which offers wireless peer-to-peer services, reducing the traffic stress at the backhaul. However, the delivery of multicast content is not reliable enough to achieve effective throughput. We introduce OpenFlow based Software-defined Networking (SDN) technology in heterogeneous networks for reliable dissemination of multicast content to interested D2D users. It provides simplified and efficient multicast signaling due to well-organized centralized construction of multicast trees, multicast group membership management and central allocation of spectral resources. In this paper, we present SDN based heterogeneous LTE/WLAN network architecture that logically supports D2D enabled flexible multicast communication where direct links are established among proximate users. We simulate heterogeneous network architecture in NS3 simulator and test the provisioning of multicast video frames to real smartphones by jointly exploiting network information collection and network abstraction with the help of SDN. In order to achieve that, we connect our simulation testbed with a real video server to traverse the video packets to smartphones over the simulated LTE/WLAN network controlled by a real SDN controller. The functionality of our testbed is verified by reliably delivering video to connected smartphones through LTE and WLAN. The D2D users can fully enjoy flexible transmission of multicast video content with less multicast delay (due to neighboring users) and control overhead (due to SDN).