SDN-based resource allocation for heterogeneous LTE and WLAN multi-radio networks

To meet increasing bandwidth demand, cellular network operators have increasingly deployed wireless local area networks (WLANs) on top of their cellular networks [e.g., long term evolution (LTE)]. State-of-the-art smartphones can utilize such heterogeneous LTE and WLAN radio bandwidth by operating the multi-radio interfaces simultaneously. This paper investigates how such heterogeneous radio bandwidth should be controlled and allocated to multi-radio user devices. A software-defined networking (SDN)-based resource allocation framework is proposed that can properly orchestrate heterogeneous radio bandwidth in emerging LTE/WLAN multi-radio networks in a centralized and holistic manner. The proposed framework is implemented and evaluated in a computing environment that combines a real SDN controller with simulated network forwarding entities.