Realizing the potential of the network edge

Data networks have a tendency to perennially experience evolution of technology and growth of infrastructure. Although the core of data networks has traditionally reaped a larger portion of this evolution and growth, the edge, or the last mile of data networks is fast catching up in recent times. In modern cellular networks, for example, introduction of small cells such as femtocells has helped boost the resources available at the network edge, which is the last link between the user device and the network. Similarly, modern cable network service providers have begun enriching the edge of their networks by deploying fiber optic lines all the way to the home of the subscribers. With these new resources available at the edge of the modern data networks, we investigate ways in which the real potential of the new network edge can be realized.;Small cells overlaid on existing cellular networks provide opportunities for us to be able to better manage the ever increasing traffic demand. We present novel ideas to alleviate the burden of traffic on the traditional cellular networks by offloading major portions of this traffic to the newly introduced femtocells at the network edge. We also present realizable deployments of the proposed ideas. Mobility being an essential characteristic of cellular users, the potential of the newly introduced femtocells cannot be fully realized until mobile users are allowed to benefit from them. Hence we modify existing handover procedures that result in completely seamless handovers between femtocells, reducing the duration of data interruptions experienced by mobile users during handovers to negligibly low levels. Finally, we move on to propose an innovative video delivery mechanism that is designed with specific focus on the properties of the network edge of the modern cellular networks, which serves high quality videos to mobile users in the network at lower costs.;Extension of high capacity lines by modern cable network service providers all the way to the subscriber's home, and installation of operator controlled devices with reasonable computational power and storage capacities at home provides opportunities for us to push centralized service functionalities to the edge of the network, thus gaining additional scalability. We propose simple but novel strategies for video on demand and premium voice services for such walled garden networks using peer-to-peer communication technologies that can be deployed on existing network infrastructure.;These improvements in modern data networks work together towards realizing the potential of the network edge by harnessing the resources at the last mile of the network, thus providing better service to users, while benefiting service providers by saving on the cost of upgrading the infrastructure.