Scalable Service-Driven Database-Enabled Wireless Network Virtualization for Robust RF Sharing

Wireless virtualization has emerged as one of the efficient ways to overcome numerous wireless networking challenges such as RF resource sharing. RF spectrum sharing in wireless networks focuses on increasing the usage efficiency of radio frequency (RF) spectrum with its increasing demand. To reduce uncertainties that accompany the spectrum sharing process caused by RF sensing, database-based spectrum sharing allows opportunistic spectrum access through occupancy information query of a spectrum database. In this paper, we propose a 2-level hierarchical spectrum allocation framework for multiple service-based virtual networks (VN) by leasing wireless resources from Wireless Infrastructure Providers (WIPs). The software defined network (SDN)-enabled virtualization configures the operating environment on the fly. This paper focuses on the competition between multiple VNs to get best RF channels to serve their users while eliminating the need for one-to-one contracts between VNs and WIPs. We develop a mathematical model for the spectrum allocation scheme which allows heterogeneous network configurations with better economic benefit. A trust-based security mechanism is also proposed for early detection and prevention of security attacks to maintain the availability attribute of the resource allocation process. Simulation results show that spectrum sharing is efficient, and assures service availability to perceived legitimate VN users.