Router virtualization is becoming more common as a method that uses network (NW) equipment effectively and robustly similar to server virtualization. Edge routers, which are gateways of core NWs, should be virtualized because they have many functions and resources just as servers do. To virtualize edge routers, a metro NW, which is a wide area layer-2 NW connecting each user's residential gateway to edge routers, must trace dynamic edge router re-allocation by changing the route of each Ethernet flow. Therefore, we propose a scalable centralized control architecture of a virtual layer-2 switch on a metro NW to trace virtual router re-allocation and use metro NW equipment effectively. The proposed scalable control architecture improves the centralized route control performance by processing in parallel on a flow-by-flow basis taking into account route information even in the worst case where edge routers fail. In addition, the architecture can equalize the load among parallel processes dynamically by using two proposed load re-allocation methods to increase the route control performance stably while minimizing the amount of resources for the control. We evaluate the scalability of the proposed architecture through theoretical analysis and experiments on a prototype and show that the proposed architecture increases the number of flows accommodated in a metro NW. Moreover, we evaluate the load re-allocation methods through simulation and show that they can evenly distribute the load among parallel processes. Finally, we show that the proposed architecture can be applied to not only large-scale metro NWs but also to data center NWs, which have recently become an important type of large-scale layer-2 NW.

This paper describes an architectural design and related services of a new Japanese academic backbone network, called SINET5, which will be launched in April 2016. The network will cover all 47 prefectures with 100-Gigabit Ethernet technology and connect each pair of prefectures with a minimized latency. This will enable users to leverage evolving cloud-computing powers as well as draw on a high-performance platform for data-intensive applications. The transmission layer will form a fully meshed, SDN-friendly, and reliable network. The services will evolve to be more dynamic and cloud-oriented in response to user demands. Cyber-security measures for the backbone network and tools for performance acceleration and visualization are also discussed.

In this paper, we posit that extension of SDN to support deeply and flexibly programmable, software-defined data plane significantly enhance SDN and NFV and their interaction in terms of (1) enhanced interaction between applications and networks, (2) optimization of network functions, and (3) rapid development of new network protocols. All of these benefits are expected to contribute to improving the quality of diversifying communication networks and services. We identify three major technical challenges for enabling software-defined data plane as (1) ease of programming, (2) reasonable and predictable performance and (3) isolation among multiple concurrent logics. We also promote application-driving thinking towards defining software defined data-plane. We briefly introduce our project FLARE and its related technologies and review four use cases of flexible and deeply programmable data plane.

Network virtualization is an essential technology for cloud datacenters that provide multi-tenancy services. SDN-enabled datacenters have introduced an edge-overlay (distributed tunneling) model to construct virtual tenant networks. The edge-overlay model generally uses L2-in-L3 tunneling protocols like VXLAN. However, the tunneling-based edge-overlay model has some performance and compatibility problems. We have proposed a yet another overlay approach without using IP tunneling. Our model leverages two methods, OpenFlow-based Virtual/Physical MAC address translation and host-based VLAN ID usage. The former method replaces VMs' MAC addresses to physical servers' ones, which prevents frame encapsulation as well as unnecessary MAC address learning by physical switches. The later method breaks a limitation of the number of VLAN-based virtual tenant networks (4094) by allocating entire VLAN ID space to each physical server and by mapping VLAN ID to VM with OpenFlow controller support. In our model, any special hardware equipment like OpenFlow hardware switches is not required and only software-based virtual switches and the controller are used. In this paper, we evaluated the performance of the proposed model comparing with the tunneling model using 40GbE environment. The results show that the performance of VM-to-VM communication with the proposed model is close to that of physical communication and exceeds 10Gbps throughput with large TCP segment, and the proposed model shows better scalability for the number of VMs.

This paper proposes a QoS-aware differential processing control (QADPC) scheme for OpenFlow-based mobile networks. QADPC classifies the input packets to the control plane by considering end terminal mobility and service type. Then, different capacities are assigned to each classified packet for prioritized processing. By means of Markov chains, QADPC is evaluated in terms of blocking probability and waiting time in the control plane. Analytical results demonstrate that QADPC offers high priority packets both lower blocking probability and less waiting time.

In this invited paper, software defined network (SDN)-based approaches for future cost-effective optical mobile backhaul (MBH) networks are discussed, focusing on key principles, throughput optimization and dynamic service provisioning as its use cases. We propose a novel physical-layer aware throughput optimization algorithm that confirms > 100Mb/s end-to-end per-cell throughputs with ≥2.5Gb/s optical links deployed at legacy cell sites. We also demonstrate the first optical line terminal (OLT)-side optical Nyquist filtering of legacy 10G on-off-keying (OOK) signals, enabling dynamic >10Gb/s Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiple Access (OFDMA) λ-overlays for MBH over passive optical network (PON) with 40-km transmission distances and 1:128 splitting ratios, without any ONU-side equipment upgrades. The software defined flexible optical access network architecture described in this paper is thus highly promising for future MBH networks.

The use of computing resources on network is becoming active in the Internet and private networks. OpenFlow/Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is drawing attention as a method to control network virtualization for the cloud computing services and other carrier services. This paper introduces examples of OpenFlow/SDN technologies applied to commercial cloud services. Various activities to expand coverage over commercial carrier networks are also mentioned.

OpenFlow, originally proposed for campus and enterprise network experimentation, has become a promising SDN architecture that is considered as a widely-deployable production network node recently. It is, in a consequence, pointed out that OpenFlow cannot scale and replace today's versatile network devices due to its limited scalability and flexibility. In this paper, we propose OpenQFlow, a novel scalable and flexible variant of OpenFlow. OpenQFlow provides a fine-grained flow tracking while flow classification is decoupled from the tracking by separating the inefficiently coupled flow table to three different tables: flow state table, forwarding rule table, and QoS rule table. We also develop a two-tier flow-based QoS framework, derived from our new packet scheduling algorithm, which provides performance guarantee and fairness on both granularity levels of micro- and aggregate-flow at the same time. We have implemented OpenQFlow on an off-the-shelf microTCA chassis equipped with a commodity multicore processor, for which our architecture is suited, to achieve high-performance with carefully engineered software design and optimization.

This paper proposes a novel universal line termination scheme for the ONUs (optical network units) of fiber-optic local access systems. Its main feature is that only low cost AD/DA converters for Hi-Fi audio are needed. Because audio AD/DA converters are insufficient for ISDN basic rate access (● 320kbaud) and cause waveform distortion, we develop a simple detection algorithm that does not use any equalizing filter. The algorithm can handle plural channels with one general purpose MPU (micro-processing unit). Based on this, a novel architecture for a fiber-optic local access system is presented that removes the MPUs from each optical network unit (ONU) and places them in the central office (CO). The proposed system yields a small, service-uniform ONU that supports a wide range of narrow-band services (POTS & ISDN) with no distinction. To realize this system at the lowest possible cost, a high-speed code division multiplexing (CDM) scheme with novel code word sets is developed.

In the basic user/network interface of ISDN (ITU-T Recommendation I. 430), the D-channel is shared by up to 8 terminals for signal and data packets. An analytical model is proposed to reveal the performance characteristics of the access control scheme for the D-channel. Numerical and simulation results are shown to demonstrate the performance differentiation of the terminals with different priorities. It is observed that the mean signal delay at low load may become large because of long service time for packets, and that the priority mechanism may not work properly when the loads at terminals are very asymmetric.

An extended desktop multimedia conference system named FREDERIC (File Retrieval Engineering on Distributed EnviRonment and Interactive Communication system) has been developed for international cooperative work by sharing CAD and image data among multi-point users. This paper describes the basic network design concept of utilizing the Internet as a best-effort service and ISDN as a high-speed guaranteed service. Service system requirements and designs were developed to access common databases and collaborative work of multimedia information those are shared by customers with desktop computers and to allow remote offices to use a plant walkthrough system. The performance of the prototype system especially focused on the file transmission time which is the key factor in developing and constructing the system. By applying the image compression technology of multi-tone entropy coding, it is shown that the short time CAD data transfer to meet the requirements can be achieved.

In pursuing its vision that digital signals will come to dominate not only voice communications but also various services on an integrated basis in future telecommunications, NTT has successfully completed a major part of telephone network preparations by digitizing all of its networks by the end of 1997. Accompanying digitization, it has also started providing various new services including the initiation of best-effort services through OCN. At the same time, the steady progress in Internet diffusion, the globalization of enterprise networks and inter-company electronic transactions are leading to the full scale usage of IP network communications. Because IP networks are still faced with pressing demand and unresolved issues, NTT believes it is also necessary to structure and provide computer-compatible networks suitable for IP communications by shifting from telephone-focused architecture in order to respond better to these growing needs. This paper overviews the digital network assets including ISDN that NTT has accumulated as a carrier as well as the IP networks such as the Internet that have spread throughout our societies. It also outlines new access services and network offerings based on optical and other technologies and the ATM networks that serve as the infrastructure for highly reliable and economical IP networks, and presents our thinking behind how such networks will be organically combined.

This paper describes key technologies for implementing ATM internode signalling. The reliability of a multimedia handling network can be improved by setting multiple virtual paths(VPs)between two nodes and setting signalling links over each internode VP. A software structure appropriate for handling the signalling protocol(MTP3b)within this framework is proposed. We also propose a cost-effective and reliable way to set a signalling route between a node and the service control point(SCP), based on the associate mode structure. Evaluation by implementing a node system shows that it requires only 15% more dynamic program steps for one sending/receiving sequence of the VP signalling than the existing method for circuit-related information. Thus, we could attain highly reliable and cost-effective signalling for ATM multimedia networks.

The rapid development of Asynchronous Transfer Mode technology in the last 10-15 years has stimulated renewed interest in the design and analysis of switching systems, leading to new ideas for system designs and new insights into the performance and evaluation of such systems. As ATM moves closer to realizing the vision of ubiquitous broadband ISDN services, the design of switching systems takes on growing importance. This paper seeks to clarify the key architectural issues for ATM switching system design and provides a survey of the current state-of-the-art.

ATM technology can integrate not only new multimedia services but also existing services such as plain old telephone services (POTS) and narrow-band ISDN (N-ISDN) services. We developed ATM subscriber line interface circuits (ATM-SLIC), which can accommodate POTS or N-ISDN subscribers, and a trial ATM access switching system using the ATM-SLICs. This paper proposes embedded trunk functions, a message-type signaling transfer method, an economical ATM interface structure, and a cell-based system control method. Moreover, it shows the main characteristics and efficiency of these proposals in terms of experimental data.

The ATM switching system accommodating the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN) subscribers should ensure the continued support of existing services and applications and guarantee the same quality of voice services for the telephone users. The voice message connection control discussed in this paper is one of the various technical issues for voice services in the interworking function unit, IWF between asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) node and existing synchronous transfer mode (STM) node [2]. We describe the technical points for the implementation of the voice message connection control with the consideration of the development time and cost. And then we discuss several technical problems such as mapping pulse code modulation PCM coded voice data into an ATM cell, different switching operation, keeping performance of the ATM-PSTN interworking system and then present benefits of the voice message connection control processing from the hardware/software point of views.

This paper discribes the ISDN PROtocol Testing system (I-PROT). The system consists of translation & distribution function block, layer-2 fault surveillance function block, layer-3 fault surveillance function block, cause detection function block, and HMI. The system receives data from protocol monitors and detects the error recovery sequences, (we call "quasi-normal sequences"), as well as the sequences that do not follow the protocol specifications, (we call "abnormal sequences"). In the layer-3 fault surveillance function block, we use the protocol specification database whose records are converted from the state transition rules and added the judgment which classify the rules into the "normal" and "quasi-normal." We also show the classification method which is applicable to all connection-oriented protocol specifications. In the layer-2 fault surveillance function block, we explain the another easy detecting method. In the cause function block, we describe the partial pattern matching method to relate the protocol fault to the real cause of the fault. We built the prototype of the I-PROT and examine the turn around time (TAT) performance. As a result of the examination, we find the TAT of the I-PROT is directly proportional to the number of the frames analyzed by the system, and the system can reduce the load of the conventional manual analysis by the maintenance personnel.

Narrow-band ISDN services may experience nonstationary traffic conditions. Therefore, switch design should take account of these conditions. We propose new performance measures for switching systems and describe a traffic model, which is a mixture of stationary Poissonian traffic and momentarily focused traffic. On the basis of this model, performance measures are determined so as to satisfy grade of service requirements that are in effect during some short interval after the momentarily focused traffic enters the system. We also propose an overload control scheme that uses these new performance measures. Finally, we show practical and numerical examples for the performance measures and overload control scheme.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is considered to bo the key technology for realizing B-ISDN. This paper discusses current research on ATM switching nodes for high-speed communication networks. Although some ATM switching nodes have been deployed, much work continues for resolving problems as regards operations and maintainability, such as ATM layer performance evaluation including layered management scheme upon detection of line failure, function test methods regarding channel connectivity for multicasting, and real-time ATM traffic-monitoring mechanism with QoS control. To achieve sufficient ATM node maintainability, the ATM cell transfer quality on the VP and VC levels should be ensured both within the ATM nodes and between adjacent ATM nodes. Since ATM switching nods handle many kinds of virtual paths and virtual channels, each channel's connectivity must be confirmed. This paper proposes ATM layer performance evaluation concept, layered management scheme upon detection of line failure, function test methods for a multicast switch using test cells that periodically pass through pre-determined switching path routes. It also proposes the concept of test cell generation for simulating multiplexed ATM test cells taking ATM truffic characteristics into account. Furthermore, this paper describes a fault diagnosis scheme using test cells that can continually observe the entire ATM connection length in the system. A real-time traffic monitoring hardware configuration and an interface with software control are also discussed and it is clarified that the required functions can be realized by using commercially available DSPs.

We discuss the requirements, a model and protocol for the out-channel interaction for PCS in Intelligent Networks. As PCS can utilize the DSSI function (i.e. location update, authentication), it is reasonable to consider a model and protocol of the interaction for PCS as well as DSSI. To obtain the model/protocol, two types of interactions, call-related and call-unrelated, are considered. It is necessary to enhance the Basic Call State Model (BCSM) for the former, and to introduce a state model similar to BCSM for the latter, which represents association management and component exchange between a user and the network. The authentication function allocation for the dominant traffic, location update, is discussed based on the model and protocol, and this can co-exist with the proposed generic model and protocol.