Lightweight virtualized evolved packet core architecture for future mobile communication

The accommodation of machine-to-machine (M2M) terminals in mobile networks is important; therefore, future network architecture supporting M2M services is of intense interest to mobile network operators. We propose an implemental architecture of a virtualized evolved packet core (vEPC) to accommodate M2M services. The proposed architecture deploys dedicated vEPCs based on the functional requirements of services. Every vEPC is optimized by eliminating EPC components or replacing standardized interface protocols with internal application interworking. We confirm the validity of the proposed architecture by experimentally evaluating CPU resource consumption. We also confirm that the proposed architecture reduces CPU time consumption by up to 27% by reducing signaling message volume, and improved performance is observed independently with M2M terminal mobility or communication characteristics.