Abstract
This paper studies the problem of joint edge cache placement and content delivery in cache-enabled small cell networks in the presence of spatio-temporal content dynamics unknown a priori . The small base stations (SBSs) satisfy users’ content requests either directly from their local caches, or by retrieving from other SBSs’ caches or from the content server. In contrast to previous approaches that assume a static content library at the server, this paper considers a more realistic non-stationary content library, where new contents may emerge over time at different locations. To keep track of spatio-temporal content dynamics, we propose that the new contents cached at users can be exploited by the SBSs to timely update their flexible cache memories in addition to their routine off-peak main cache updates from the content server. To take into account the variations in traffic demands as well as the limited caching space at the SBSs, a user-assisted caching strategy is proposed based on reinforcement learning principles to progressively optimize the caching policy with the target of maximizing the weighted network utility in the long run. Simulation results verify the superior performance of the proposed caching strategy against various benchmark designs.
Highlights
Global mobile data traffic is growing at an unprecedented rate and is predicted to account for more than 63 percent of total data traffic, reaching 48.3 Exabytes per month by 2021 [1]
The integration of content caching with small base stations (SBSs) that provide shortrange and low-cost transmission underlaying the existing macrocell cellular networks, allows popular mobile data to be prefetched from the core network during off-peak traffic hours and to be delivered to edge users at peak times
Considering the fact that the capacity of cache storage is highly limited at the individual SBSs as compared to the massive content library at the content server, efficient caching mechanisms are advocated to be developed for the network operators to maximally benefit from caching techniques
Summary
Global mobile data traffic is growing at an unprecedented rate and is predicted to account for more than 63 percent of total data traffic, reaching 48.3 Exabytes per month by 2021 [1]. The integration of content caching with small base stations (SBSs) that provide shortrange and low-cost transmission underlaying the existing macrocell cellular networks, allows popular mobile data to be prefetched from the core network during off-peak traffic hours and to be delivered to edge users at peak times. Such integration provides opportunities to offload the backhaul traffic load, and to improve system performance such as energy efficiency and transmission delay, and significantly alleviates the backhaul and latency bottlenecks in conventional wireless CDN [6]. A timely estimation of users’ content requests is challenging but essential for the effective caching policy design as well as for the reliable and cost-efficient operation of networks under the uncertainty of traffic demands
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