Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey

The exponential growth of mobile applications and services during the last years has challenged the existing network infrastructures. Consequently, the arrival of multiple management solutions to cope with this explosion along the end-to-end network chain has increased the complexity in the coordina...

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Main Authors: Jorge Gallego-Madrid, Ramon Sanchez-Iborra, Pedro M. Ruiz, Antonio F. Skarmeta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2022-04-01
Series:Digital Communications and Networks
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352864821000614
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author Jorge Gallego-Madrid
Ramon Sanchez-Iborra
Pedro M. Ruiz
Antonio F. Skarmeta
author_facet Jorge Gallego-Madrid
Ramon Sanchez-Iborra
Pedro M. Ruiz
Antonio F. Skarmeta
author_sort Jorge Gallego-Madrid
collection DOAJ
description The exponential growth of mobile applications and services during the last years has challenged the existing network infrastructures. Consequently, the arrival of multiple management solutions to cope with this explosion along the end-to-end network chain has increased the complexity in the coordinated orchestration of different segments composing the whole infrastructure. The Zero-touch Network and Service Management (ZSM) concept has recently emerged to automatically orchestrate and manage network resources while assuring the Quality of Experience (QoE) demanded by users. Machine Learning (ML) is one of the key enabling technologies that many ZSM frameworks are adopting to bring intelligent decision making to the network management system. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art application of ML-based techniques to improve ZSM performance. To this end, the main related standardization activities and the aligned international projects and research efforts are deeply examined. From this dissection, the skyrocketing growth of the ZSM paradigm can be observed. Concretely, different standardization bodies have already designed reference architectures to set the foundations of novel automatic network management functions and resource orchestration. Aligned with these advances, diverse ML techniques are being currently exploited to build further ZSM developments in different aspects, including multi-tenancy management, traffic monitoring, and architecture coordination, among others. However, different challenges, such as the complexity, scalability, and security of ML mechanisms, are also identified, and future research guidelines are provided to accomplish a firm development of the ZSM ecosystem.
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spelling doaj.art-e069ef6bbef044a0b9023e1ab33ef1da2022-12-22T01:16:05ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Digital Communications and Networks2352-86482022-04-0182105123Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a surveyJorge Gallego-Madrid0Ramon Sanchez-Iborra1Pedro M. Ruiz2Antonio F. Skarmeta3Department of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, SpainDepartment of Engineering and Applied Techniques, University Center of Defense, 30729, San Javier Air Force Base, Spain; Corresponding author.Department of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, SpainDepartment of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, SpainThe exponential growth of mobile applications and services during the last years has challenged the existing network infrastructures. Consequently, the arrival of multiple management solutions to cope with this explosion along the end-to-end network chain has increased the complexity in the coordinated orchestration of different segments composing the whole infrastructure. The Zero-touch Network and Service Management (ZSM) concept has recently emerged to automatically orchestrate and manage network resources while assuring the Quality of Experience (QoE) demanded by users. Machine Learning (ML) is one of the key enabling technologies that many ZSM frameworks are adopting to bring intelligent decision making to the network management system. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art application of ML-based techniques to improve ZSM performance. To this end, the main related standardization activities and the aligned international projects and research efforts are deeply examined. From this dissection, the skyrocketing growth of the ZSM paradigm can be observed. Concretely, different standardization bodies have already designed reference architectures to set the foundations of novel automatic network management functions and resource orchestration. Aligned with these advances, diverse ML techniques are being currently exploited to build further ZSM developments in different aspects, including multi-tenancy management, traffic monitoring, and architecture coordination, among others. However, different challenges, such as the complexity, scalability, and security of ML mechanisms, are also identified, and future research guidelines are provided to accomplish a firm development of the ZSM ecosystem.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352864821000614Zero-touch network and service management (ZSM)Next generation networks (NGN)Artificial intelligence (AI)Machine learning (ML)
spellingShingle Jorge Gallego-Madrid
Ramon Sanchez-Iborra
Pedro M. Ruiz
Antonio F. Skarmeta
Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
Digital Communications and Networks
Zero-touch network and service management (ZSM)
Next generation networks (NGN)
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Machine learning (ML)
title Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
title_full Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
title_fullStr Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
title_full_unstemmed Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
title_short Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey
title_sort machine learning based zero touch network and service management a survey
topic Zero-touch network and service management (ZSM)
Next generation networks (NGN)
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Machine learning (ML)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352864821000614
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