A Load-Balanced Re-Embedding Scheme for Wireless Network Virtualization

In wireless network virtualization processes, load imbalance in substrate nodes and substrate links may significantly reduce the number of virtual network requests served by a substrate network. In addition, load imbalance also impairs resource utilization and increases embedding cost of the virtual networks. To tackle these issues, this work proposes a re-embedding scheme for virtual node (RSVN). Based on the load condition of a substrate network, RSVN first determines whether to start re-embedding procedure or not, and then selects proper re-embedded virtual nodes according to their re-embedding factors. Next, RSVN re-embeds the selected virtual nodes to balance the loads of a wireless substrate network. The extensive simulation results showed that RSVN improves the acceptance ratio of virtual network requests, increases the resource utilization of substrate networks, and reduces the average embedding cost of the entire virtual networks.