Service Chain Placement Optimization in 5G FANET-Based Network Edge

Next generation (5G&B) networks will require the design of new architectures and technologies capable of supporting time-sensitive applications. To this aim, the implementation of service chaining as a tool to simplify and lighten the execution of complex tasks by splitting these into simpler functions that can be provided at the network edge can represent a critical improvement. Recently, it has been proposed to implement the network edge by way of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) organized as a flying ad hoc network. In this article, we shed light on the new paradigm of service chaining at the network edge and present an approach that aims at solving an optimal virtual network function placement problem, taking into account UAV computing and battery limitations, as well as latency constraints, tightly associated with the specific application to be supported. Some numerical results assess the effectiveness of this methodology.