Wireless Virtualization Architecture: Wireless Networking for Internet of Things

In this article, we design, develop, and evaluate a wireless virtualization (WiVi) architecture for wireless networking for emerging Internet of Things (IoT) or 5G network applications by using a three-layer game theory model. WiVi is regarded as an emerging network paradigm to support different network service requirements (delay sensitive, bandwidth hungry, high data rate, etc.) for different IoT applications. In the proposed three-layer game model, interactions among three entities: 1) wireless resource providers (WRPs); 2) mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs); and 3) their subscribed wireless users (i.e., IoT devices), are formulated as strategies to optimize their respective utilities. The WiVi enables WRPs (also known as layer-1 leaders in the three-layer game) to sublease their wireless resources to MVNOs (also known as layer-2 leaders in the three-layer game) through RF slicing and adaptively setting their prices for subleasing. The MVNOs set the optimal competitive prices to attract more end-users/IoT devices (also known as followers in the three-layer game) to maximize their utilities. The end-users (IoT devices) maximize their data rates (i.e., utilities) by meeting the imposed quality of service (QoS) requirements and budget constraints. We investigate formal analysis of the uniqueness and existence of the equilibrium point of the three-layer game. Performance is evaluated using simulation results. Results show that the proposed three-layer game has unique and optimal equilibrium game. The numerical results show maximized utilities for WRPs, MVNOs, and IoT devices/users.