Utility-Based Multipath Delivery of Prioritized XR Content in a Machine Learning and Network Slicing-enhanced Environment

This paper introduces the Utility-Based Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (uMPTCP), an innovative extension of MPTCP designed for prioritized extended reality (XR) content delivery, based on monitored Quality of Service (QoS) network metrics. The proposed approach includes an algorithm that assesses subflows’ delivery performance and dynamically selects the most efficient one to deliver prioritized content with reduced latency. A comparison is made against a stateof-the-art solution, the virtual private channel (VPC), and the default MPTCP algorithm. The evaluation considers both singlehomed and multi-homed configurations in scenarios with varied bandwidth requirements, including XR. The study is conducted within the framework of the FRADIS project, aimed at providing a comprehensive solution for 5G and beyond heterogeneous network environments. FRADIS integrates machine learning to optimize service-specific approaches, allowing a choice between traffic engineering with network slicing and protocol-based solutions, including the proposed uMPTCP solution. The framework supports a diverse range of services for smart city monitoring, XR applications, e-health solutions and entertainment.