Call for Papers

Beyond fifth-generation (B5G) networks, or so-called “6G”, is the next-generation wireless communications systems that will radically change how Society evolves. Edge intelligence is emerging as a new concept and has extremely high potential in addressing the new challenges in B5G networks by providing mobile edge computing and edge caching capabilities together with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the proximity of end users. In edge intelligence empowered B5G networks, edge resources are managed by AI systems for offering powerful computational processing and massive data acquisition locally at edge networks. AI helps to obtain efficient resource scheduling strategies in a complex environment with heterogeneous resources and a massive number of devices, while meeting the ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability requirements of novel applications, e.g., self-driving cars, remote operation, intelligent transport systems, Industry 4.0, smart energy, e-health, and AR/VR services. By integrating AI functions into edge networks, radio networks become service-aware and resource-aware to have a full insight into the operating environment and can adapt resource allocation/orchestration in a dynamic manner.

Despite the potential of edge intelligence, however, many challenges also need to be addressed in this new paradigm. Until now, limited research efforts have been made on edge intelligence for B5G networks. The aim of this Special Issue is to promote edge intelligence as the crucial technology and new research field in B5G/6G networks. The Special Issue will also present and highlight the advances and latest implementations and applications in the field of edge intelligence for B5G networks such that the theoretical and practical frontiers can be moved forward for a deeper understanding from both the academic and industrial viewpoints. Possible topics include but are not limited to:

• Architectures, frameworks, and models for edge intelligence empowered B5G
• AI empowered edge-cloud architecture for B5G
• New concept, theory, and protocols for edge intelligence empowered B5G
• Edge computing, communication, caching, and control (edge 4C) in B5G
• Edge intelligence for computation offloading in B5G
• Edge intelligence for caching and storage in B5G
• Deep reinforcement learning approaches for edge intelligent B5G
• Networking between edge nodes for resource scheduling and orchestration
• Resource optimization for edge intelligence empowered B5G
• Machine learning approaches for resource synergy in B5G
• Big data and learning fusion in edge intelligent B5G
• Network traffic prediction and control in edge intelligent B5G
• Service discovery and mobility as a service for edge intelligent B5G
• Energy efficiency and greenness-performance tradeoff for edge intelligent B5G
• Security and privacy in edge intelligent B5G
• Edge intelligence and blockchain for secure B5G networks
• Use cases/applications highlighting the potential of edge intelligence for B5G

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Paper Submission Guidelines.

All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through Manuscript Central. Select the “April 2021/Edge Intelligence for Beyond 5G Networks” topic from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles.

Important Dates

Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 July 2020
Initial Decision Date: 1 October 2020
Revised Manuscript Due: 1 November 2020
Final Decision Date: 1 December 2020
Final Manuscript Due: 15 December 2020
Publication Date: April 2021

Guest Editors

Yan Zhang
University of Oslo, Norway

Zhiyong Feng
Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications, China

Hassnaa Moustafa
Intel, USA

Feng Ye
University of Dayton, USA

Usman Javaid
Vodafone, UK

Chunfeng Cui
China Mobile, China