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Publications

Publication Date

Manuscript Submission Deadline

Special Issue

Call for Papers

The trend towards more programmability and hence flexibility in communication networks continues with increasing attention in academia and industry. This so-called network softwarization enabled by paradigms such as SDN (Software Defined Networking), NV (Network Virtualization), and NFV (Network Function Virtualization) is not limited to fixed networks, but has clearly reached wireless networks with concepts including Software Defined Radio Access Networks and RAN function split. An effective and efficient management of softwarized networks and services is indispensable to cope with the unfolding plethora of opportunities provided by softwarization. Moreover, such flexibility does not only have to be addressed by selecting a configuration once, but systems have to be adapted continuously and be able to deal with dynamic demands in an automated way. In this perspective, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will play a central role in management and orchestration of softwarized networks.

Given the strong world-wide interest in the softwarization of wireless and wired networks and cloud computing infrastructures, this special issue aims at the timely publication of recent innovative research results on this important topic.

Based on the continuously increasing interest, this special issue is the sixth special issue as part of a series on Management of Softwarized Networks in IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, with the first issue published in March 2015. Since then, 125+ papers were published in TNSM on the latest technologies for the management of softwarized networks. In particular, the emerging network dynamics and the demand towards a holistic end-to-end network management across protocol layers, interconnecting wired and wireless domains for programmable hardware and software platforms inside the network or at its edge open up many more unsolved challenges to be addressed.

We welcome submissions addressing the important challenges (see the non-exhaustive list of topics below) and presenting novel research or experimentation results. Survey papers that offer an original perspective on related work and identify key challenges for future research are welcome as well. We look forward to your submissions!

Topics of interest for this special issue, include, but are not limited to the following:

  • APIs, protocols and algorithms for the management of softwarized networks
  • Efficient end-to-end management of softwarized network infrastructures
  • Network and service automation
  • Algorithms for efficient orchestration
  • SDN and P4 switch/router architecture and design
  • Management of virtualized wireline and wireless network resources, services and functions
  • Management of 5G and beyond softwarized networks
  • Edge computing and in-network processing in softwarized networks
  • Management of service-oriented control plane functions in 5G/6G systems
  • (De-)composition of virtualized network and service functions
  • Service Functions Chains (SFC) modeling, representation and management
  • Composition algorithms and automated deployment for SFCs
  • Dynamic migration of network functions and NFV-based systems
  • (Radio) access and core network slicing and slice management
  • Efficient network and service monitoring
  • Algorithms for diagnosis and correlation of events
  • Automated configuration and repair of softwarized networks
  • Availability, reliability, robustness and resilience
  • Supporting adaptation and flexibility in softwarized networks
  • Dynamic resource scaling based on user mobility in softwarized networks
  • Policy-based and intent-based management
  • QoS/QoE-based management and control in softwarized networks
  • Debugging and introspection of softwarized networks
  • Measurements and benchmarking of management concepts in softwarized networks
  • Detailed experience reports from experimental testbeds
  • Transition strategies from existing networks to softwarized networks
  • AI/Machine learning for softwarized networks

Submission Format

Papers will be evaluated based on their originality, presentation, relevance and contribution to the field of management of software-defined virtualized systems, as well as their overall quality and suitability for the special issue. The submitted papers must be written in a good English and describe original research which has not been published nor currently under review by other journals or conferences. Previously published conference papers should be clearly identified and referenced by the authors at the initial submission stage and an explanation should be provided of how such papers have been extended in order to be considered for this special issue.

View the Author Guidelines for preparation of manuscripts.

For more information, please contact Wolfgang Kellerer or Giovanni Schembra.

Submission Guidelines

All manuscripts and any supplementary material should be submitted through the IEEE ManuscriptCentral service. Authors must indicate in the submission cover letter that their manuscript is intended for the “Advanced Management of Softwarized Networks” special issue.

Important Dates

Paper Submission Date: 1 June 2020 (Extended Deadline - Firm)
Notification of Acceptance: 1 September 2020
Publication Date*: 1 March 2021

Guest Editors

Wolfgang Kellerer (Co-Lead)
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Jinho Hwang
IBM T.J. Watson, USA

Noriaki Kamiyama
Fukuoka University, Japan

Joon-Myung Kang
Google, USA

Barbara Martini
CNIT, Italy

Rafael Pasquini
Federal University of Uberlandia, Brazil

Dimitrios Pezaros
University of Glasgow, UK

Giovanni Schembra (Co-Lead)
University of Catania, Italy

Hongke Zhang
Beijing Jiaotong University, China

Mohamed Faten Zhani
ÉTS, Canada

Thomas Zinner
NTNU, Norway

(* online published version will be available in IEEE Xplore with the final DOI very soon after the camera ready version has been submitted by the authors)