A Classification of the Enabling Techniques for Low Latency and Reliable Communications in 5G and Beyond: AI-Enabled Edge Caching

Various advanced and mission-critical applications are enabled by the emerging technologies in fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems. To ensure improved quality of experience (QoE) of users, 5G and beyond networks require ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). The successful realization of the URLLC entails the advent of new technological concepts. Therefore, this article presents an overview of the enabling techniques for the URLLC. Classification of the enabling techniques is done and an extensive review of the literature is presented to identify the state-of-the-art techniques, limitations, and the potential approaches for alleviating the limitations. It is observed that artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled edge computing and caching solutions are widely explored as promising techniques to effectively guarantee low latency and reliable content acquisition while reducing redundant network traffic and improving the QoE. Therefore, we present a classification of the AI-enabled edge caching solutions and discuss various mechanisms of the caching agents. In particular, we investigate the use of deep learning (DL), deep reinforcement learning (DRL), and federated learning (FL) algorithms. Subsequently, we analyze the performance of the state-of-the-art edge caching schemes and demonstrate the performance gains of FL frameworks over conventional centralized and decentralized DL and DRL frameworks. We confirm that FL edge caching is a viable mechanism in 5G and beyond networks. On the other hand, it is shown that the IEEE 802.1 time sensitive networking and the emerging IETF deterministic networking standards present effective mechanisms when deterministic networks with bounded ultra-low latency are considered. Finally, we present the open issues and opportunities for further research.