On Using Dual Interfaces With Network Coding for Delivery Delay Reduction

Instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) reduces the completion delay of packet retransmission for multicast services in wireless point-to-multipoint (PMP) networks. Compared with multicast services, multiple unicast services may be more common in PMP networks. Reducing completion delay using IDNC for multiple unicast services is still an open problem. According to the construction features of IDNC, we find that if some unicast retransmissions are combined as a retransmission group, IDNC benefits from network coding (NC) considerably, which increases retransmission efficiency. Based on this observation, we study the total completion delay of all these unicast transmissions with intersession NC. In this paper, we provide an intersession insight into the IDNC method. Specifically, we propose a framework that contains 1) a general solution to this minimum completion delay (MCD) problem, which is modeled as a bin-packing problem, and 2) a lower bound of completion delay for the MCD solution. Additionally, we provide a high-efficiency greedy algorithm to solve the MCD problem with low computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method saves almost 43% retransmissions in PMP networks and makes 87.5% retransmission packets benefit from the NC transmission.

In this paper, we study the problem of distributing a real-time video sequence to a group of partially connected cooperative wireless devices using instantly decodable network coding (IDNC). In such a scenario, the coding conflicts occur to service multiple devices with an immediately decodable packet, and the transmission conflicts occur from simultaneous transmissions of multiple devices. To avoid these conflicts, we introduce a novel IDNC graph that represents all feasible coding and transmission conflict-free decisions in one unified framework. Moreover, a real-time video sequence has a hard deadline and unequal importance of video packets. Using these video characteristics and the new IDNC graph, we formulate the problem of minimizing the mean video distortion before the deadline as a finite horizon Markov decision process (MDP) problem. However, the backward induction algorithm that finds the optimal policy of the MDP formulation has high modeling and computational complexities. To reduce these complexities, we further design a two-stage maximal independent set selection algorithm, which can efficiently reduce the mean video distortion before the deadline. Simulation results over a real video sequence show that our proposed IDNC algorithms improve the received video quality compared with the existing IDNC algorithms.

In this paper, we propose a scheme of wireless multimedia network coded broadcast retransmission, based on Device-to-Device (D2D) communications, in which there are network coding conflicts and transmission conflicts between multiple terminal devices. For this reason, a novel instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) graph is constructed, where all the feasible coding and non-transmission collision cases are shown in the graph. Based on the constructed IDNC graph, we design the optimal broadcast strategy for batch transmission and sliding window transmission, and propose a heuristic maximum weight network coding selection algorithm (MWSA-NC) to reduce the complexity of the optimal search algorithm. The simulation results show that compared to the traditional scheme, the proposed algorithm can greatly improve the throughput of the system, reduce decoding latency and reduce video stream distortion.

The traditional instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) schemes discard the non-instantly decodable packets (NIDPs), which results in the loss of useful information. In this letter, we consider a network coding scheme named as buffered instantly decodable network coding (B-IDNC) where each receiving node can cache the NIDPs containing two unreceived packets for subsequent network decoding, and give a decoding algorithm by utilizing the maximum decoding clique. The maximum decoding clique is defined as a subset of vertices in the IDNC graph, which can be decoded together. We approximate the average packet decoding delay minimization problem as the maximum weight encoding clique problem, and a heuristic algorithm named as maximum decoding clique based maximum weight vertex (MDC-MWV) searching algorithm is proposed to solve the approximated problem. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm can reduce the average packet decoding delay compared with the conventional IDNC schemes.

Most of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are usually deployed in hostile environments where the communications conditions are not stable and not reliable. Hence, there is a need to design an effective distributed schemes to enable the sensors cooperating in order to recover the sensed data. In this paper, we establish a novel cooperative data exchange (CDE) scheme using instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) across the sensor nodes. We model the problem using the cooperative game theory in partition form. We develop also a distributed merge-and-split algorithm in order to form dynamically coalitions that maximize their utilities in terms of both energy consumption and IDNC delay experienced by all sensors. Indeed, the proposed algorithm enables these sensors to self-organize into stable clustered network structure where all sensors do not have incentives to change the cluster he is part of. Simulation results show that our cooperative scheme allows nodes not only to reduce the energy consumption, but also the IDNC completion time.

This paper considers the problem of reducing the broadcast delay of wireless networks using instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) based device-to-device (D2D) communications. In D2D-enabled networks, devices help hasten the recovery of the lost packets of devices in their transmission range by sending network coded packets. To solve the problem, the different events occurring at each device are identified so as to derive an expression for the probability distribution of the decoding delay. The joint optimization problem over the set of transmitting devices and the packet combinations of each is formulated. Due to the high complexity of finding the optimal solution, this paper focuses on cooperation without interference between the transmitting users. The optimal solution, in such interference-less scenario, is expressed using a graph theory approach by introducing the cooperation graph. Extensive simulations compare the decoding delay experienced in the Point to Multi-Point (PMP), the fully connected D2D (FC-D2D) and the more practical partially connected D2D (PC-D2D) configurations and suggest that the PC-D2D outperforms the FC-D2D in all situations and provides an enormous gain for poorly connected networks.

This paper investigates the delay minimization problem for instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) based device-to-device (D2D) communications. In D2D enabled systems, users cooperate to recover all their missing packets. The paper proposes a game theoretic framework as a tool for improving the distributed solution by overcoming the need for a central controller or additional signaling in the system. The session is modeled by self-interested players in a non-cooperative potential game. The utility functions are designed so as increasing individual payoff results in a collective behavior which achieves both a desirable system performance in a shared network environment and the Nash equilibrium. Three games are developed whose first reduces the completion time, the second the maximum decoding delay and the third the sum decoding delay. The paper, further, improves the formulations by including a punishment policy upon collision occurrence so as to achieve the Nash bargaining solution. Learning algorithms are proposed for systems with complete and incomplete information, and for the imperfect feedback scenario. Numerical results suggest that the proposed game-theoretical formulation provides appreciable performance gain against the conventional point-to-multipoint (PMP), especially for reliable user-to-user channels.

We are concerned with designing feedback-based adaptive Instantly Decodable Network Coding (IDNC) schemes with the aim of minimizing retransmission times in wireless multicast and broadcast scenarios. In this paper, we first analyze the multiple factors influencing the transmission times and give the quantitative formula. Meantime, we introduce the concept of Cache-based Instantly Decodable Network Coding (C-IDNC) that the correctly received undecodable retransmission packets are waited in the cache for a future network decoding opportunity rather than delete. Then, we formulate the retransmission times minimization problem as an max-weight search problem and propose efficient algorithms for finding its optimal solution. Further, we propose a heuristic algorithms with worst case linear execution complexity based on sorting and iteration. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithms significantly reduce the IDNC retransmission times compared to previous works.

In this paper, we investigate the use of instantly decodable network coding (IDNC) for improving two fundamental performance metrics, namely, the completion time (as a measure of throughput) and mean decoding delay, in multicast cooperative data exchange (CDE) systems, where a group of geographically close clients cooperate with each other to obtain their missing packets. Here, an IDNC scheme is used for the transmissions across these clients. We utilize the stochastic shortest path (SSP) technique to study the minimum mean completion time problem. However, since finding the optimum solution is intractable, we use the obtained formulation to draw some theoretical guidelines to heuristically find solutions that can efficiently reduce the completion time. Second, we formulate the minimum mean decoding delay problem as selecting the appropriate maximal clique over well-structured graphs at the clients, and in order to reduce its complexity, we propose a simple heuristic algorithm for it. The effectiveness of our proposed algorithms is verified through extensive simulations and comparisons with existing techniques.

Wide bandgap (WBG) perovskite plays an irreplaceable and critical role in tandem solar cells. However, the phase separation caused by excessively high halide content seriously restricts the performance and stability of the device. In this work, multifunctional regulation of the device was achieved by introducing 2,7-Dihydroxy-9-fluoronone (DHF) into both the top and bottom interfaces of the WBG perovskite. DHF achieved targeted passivation of the ionic defects in perovskite. In addition, the dual-interface energy level regulation not only enhanced hole extraction, but also enabled the conductivity type of perovskite to complete the transition from n-type to n+-type, thereby promoting electron transfer. Meanwhile, experiments showed that I- was more likely to migrate to the top interface with more defect sites, leading to phase separation, and DHF could effectively suppress phase separation. Density functional theory (DFT) indicated that the migration potential barrier for I- escaping from the surface of perovskite increases from 0.14 to 1.28eV. Finally, the device based on DHF dual interface modification achieved a photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.40%, maintaining 83% of the initial PCE after 1000h of AM 1.5 tracking and 88% of the initial PCE during 1000h of air stability.

Network coding (NC) is a promising technique recently proposed to improve network performance in terms of maximum throughput, minimum delivery delay, and energy consumption. The original proposal highlighted the advantages of NC for multicast communications in wire-line networks. Recently, network coding has been considered as an efficient approach to improve performance in wireless networks, mainly in terms of data reliability and lower energy consumption, especially for broadcast communications. The basic idea of NC is to remove the typical requirement that different information flows have to be processed and transmitted independently through the network. When NC is applied, intermediate nodes in the network do not simply relay the received packets, but they combine several received packets before transmission. As a consequence, the output flow at a given node is obtained as a linear combination of its input flows. This chapter deals with the application of network coding principle at different communications layers of the protocol stack, specifically, the Medium Access Control (MAC) and physical (PHY) Layers for wireless communication networks.

With the development of the mobile Internet in recent years, the amount of data in Internet has increased substantially, resulting in more and more serious delivery delay and data cost surge, which has brought great pressure to traditional host-centered networks. As a result, a new network architecture, Content-Centric Networking (CCN), has emerged. Compared with traditional networks, CCN has larger network capacity and lower delivery delay, which can better improve quality of service. Contents are cached in the routers in a CCN. Thus, when a user’s interest packet is passed to routers, the router that caches the content can directly respond to the request. Efficient caching strategies in CCN can not only reduce link load and storage redundancy, but also reduce delivery delay caused by the surge of data. This chapter studies caching strategies in the CCN. In order to efficiently and reasonably place contents in routers and reduce the transmission delay, it firstly proposes a caching scheme based on on-path caching and off-path caching. Secondly, in order to further reduce the energy consumption, this thesis proposes a caching scheme to minimize energy consumption. In the caching scheme based on the on-path caching and off-path caching, we firstly analyze the factors such as the popularity of contents and the history of user’s requests. Secondly, we strengthen the collaboration and the sharing of caching information between routers. Finally, an optimization problem aiming at minimizing the delivery delay is established, and an approximate algorithm is designed to obtain the approximate solution to the problem. The simulation results show that this scheme can effectively reduce delivery delay. In the caching scheme for minimizing energy consumption, we firstly set up a network content transmission model and a storage model. Secondly, through the comprehensive analysis of the content size and popularity of contents, we design the cache scheme to minimize energy consumption cost in CCN. Then, we transform the caching problem to an energy cost minimization problem, which is subject to certain constraints. Finally, an improved genetic algorithm is used to solve the problem. Simulation results show that the caching scheme to minimize energy consumption can effectively reduce the energy consumption, and it is superior to other caching schemes.KeywordsContent-centric networkingCollaborative cachingEnergy consumption minimizationPopularity

Cloud-based machine-to-machine communications emerge to facilitate services through linkage between cyber and physical worlds. In addition to great challenges in a large network of machine/sensor swarm, effective network architecture involving interconnection of wireless infrastructure and multi-hop ad hoc networking in the machine swarm remains open. Inspired by the small-world phenomenon in social networks, we may establish a short-cut path under a heterogeneous network architecture through wireless infrastructure and cloud, by connecting to data aggregators or access points in the machine swarm, such that end-to-end delay can be significantly reduced. Our mathematical analysis on network diameter and average delay, along with verifications by simulations, demonstrate spectral and energy efficiency of our proposed heterogeneous network architecture in large machine-to-machine communication networks.

This paper studies joint scheduling and network coding in wireless multicast networks with independent sources. Designing a network coding solution for wireless networks involves scheduling interference-free transmissions and optimizing a performance measure for the predetermined scheduling sets, followed by constructing network codes for the specific solution. In such a design process, the results of prior steps need to provide enough information to the subsequent steps. In this paper, we formulate a linear optimization problem whose results can be used to design a coding solution. We build our work on previous works and present statistics that show the importance of incorporating unequal timeshares in designing network codes. In particular, our statistics show a throughput improvement of about 35% in maximum flow problems and energy savings between 13% and 30%, depending on the network size, in minimum energy problems. We also present the requirements of code construction algorithms for wireless networks that capture the broadcast property of these networks and can design proper codes when timeshares are unequal. In particular, the adaptation of a centralized network coding scheme for wireless networks is discussed. Overall, the work reported here provides a three-step solution to derive network codes that optimize a performance criterion of interest while also solving the scheduling problem in multihop wireless networks.

In this paper, we study the application of physical layer network coding to the joint design of uplink and downlink transmissions, where the base station and the relay have multiple antennas, and all mobile stations only have a single antenna. A new network coding transmission protocol is proposed, where uplink and downlink transmissions can be accomplished within two time slots. Since each single antenna user has poor receive capability, precoding at the base station and relay has been carefully designed to ensure that co-channel interference can be removed completely. Explicit analytic results have been developed to demonstrate that the multiplexing gain achieved by the proposed transmission protocol is , much better than existing time sharing schemes. To further increase the achievable diversity gain, two variations of the proposed transmission protocols have also been proposed when there are multiple relays and the number of the antennas at the base station and relay is increased. Monte-Carlo simulation results have also been provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed network coded transmission protocol.