IEEE Conference on Standards for Communications and Networking
15–17 December 2021 // Virtual Conference

Call for Papers

Download the UPDATED IEEE CSCN 2021 Call for Papers >>

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we have great pleasure in inviting you to submit your work to the 2021 IEEE Conference on Standards for Communications & Networking (IEEE CSCN’21). The sixth edition of this highly successful conference will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 panedemic.

Standards play a key role in the success of the communications industry, as enablers of global systems inter-operability and economies of scale. The finalization of the 3GPP release 15 in June 2018 was a major milestone. With the first 5G specifications now complete, the industry has achieved critical progress on technology readiness, and operators around the world are starting the commercial rollout. This represents the culmination of years of concerted industry and academia efforts in scoping out and designing the next generation of mobile systems. Past editions of IEEE CSCN have played their own part in these efforts.

IEEE CSCN is a unique conference on the networking circuit in that it aims to close the gap between researchers, scientists and standards experts from academia, industry and different standardization bodies. It will serve as a platform for presenting and discussing standards-related topics in the areas of communications, networking and related disciplines, facilitating standards development as well as cooperation among the key players. IEEE CSCN 2021 will deliver high quality technical as well as visionary papers, which will be reviewed and selected by an international Technical Program Committee (TPC) representing both academia and industry, with a strong standardization background.

In 2021, IEEE CSCN will be divided into 5 tracks designed to cover the diverse space of technologies – not limited to cellular systems–. New, original and previously unpublished papers are invited that address the emerging connectivity solutions and the standardization approaches and strategies that these may take, as well as the relevant business models and use-cases.

New proposals of end-to-end network architectures and protocols enabling new business models and paving the way for a new breed of services targeting enterprise customers and vertical industries are also welcome. Moreover, papers that look at what lies ahead in terms of technical and business challenges for successful 5G deployments are also invited. Furthermore, papers that examine new research topics and technical challenges as the work on release 16 begins and start looking at beyond 5G are also welcome.

Authors of selected papers from IEEE CSCN 2021 will be invited to submit an extended and improved version to the IEEE Communications Standards Magazine in a Special Issue devoted to IEEE CSCN 2021.

We are pleased to invite you to submit an original previously unpublished paper on (but not limited to) the topics of the following tracks. For each track, paper topics may include (but are not limited to):

Tracks

Track on 5G and Beyond Emerging Wireless Communications

In the 5G era, mobile services will be developed rapidly in three typical broad scenarios, i.e., enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communication (mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC). In the meanwhile, more challenging requirements are needed to be met in order to support the new services, in terms of data rate, number of connections, reliability, and latency. These challenges drive new development of the new techniques in network architectures, radio access technologies, wireless transmission technologies, etc. For example, to achieve higher data rates, radio frequencies above 6 GHz have been utilized due to their wider bandwidths. Moreover, ultra-dense networks (UDNs) and massive multiple-input multiple-output (M-MIMO) technologies are also regarded as promising solutions.

This track aims to discuss the new technologies about standards for 5G Radio and Wireless Communications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Physical layer and MAC layer design for 5G-enabling wireless networks.
  • Dynamic scheduling, power control, interference management, and QoS management in 5G.
  • Techniques for latency reduction in 5G.
  • Resource management and control in 5G RAN.
  • Service-oriented user-plane design concepts.
  • Topology, deployment, and optimization of wireless networks.
  • Wireless technology for high speed.
  • mmWave access, backhaul and self-backhauling.
  • Application of SDN, NFV, and cloud computing to 5G (and legacy) RAN and core network architectures and implementations, such as network slicing.
  • 3GPP phased work on NR.
  • Green and energy efficient wireless networks.
  • Solutions for battery-conserving, interference-mitigating terminal design.
  • Massive and FD-MIMO communications, hybrid and coordinated beamforming technology.
  • New control signaling for heterogeneous networks.
  • Next-Generation Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11ax/ay).
  • 5G-LTE interworking and 5G/LTE — Wi-Fi/Wi-Gig interworking technology.
  • 5G operation and coexistence in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands.
  • Next-generation non-RF communications systems.
  • 5G Radio Results from simulation, prototyping, and experiments.
  • Emerging candidate technologies and business use-cases for Beyond 5G.

Track on IoT, URLLC and Automotive

Internet of Things (IoT) is leading to a new dimension of the Internet and is driven by the integration and unification of all communication systems located around us. Thereby, the systems can provide ubiquitous communication & computing with the purpose of defining a new generation of services. The IoT is a key enabler for the realization of new Smart-* realm (Smart Cities, Smart Buildings, Smart Factories, Smart Agriculture, Smart Mobility, …) as it allows for the pervasive interaction with/between smart things leading to an effective integration of information into the digital world. These smart (mobile) things – which are instrumented with sensing, actuation, and interaction capabilities – have the means to exchange information and influence the real (physical) world entities and other actors of a smart -* eco-system in real time, forming a smart pervasive computing environment. The objective is to reach a global access to the services and information through this so-called Internet of Things through the efficient support for global communications.

IoT and 5G are highly related as 5G aims to natively support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC) and ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) services over the same infrastructure. This brings enormous opportunities for many vertical sectors, just to list a few, automobile, industry automation, media, and health, to expand and renew their business models.

In that context new areas of applications and new challenges appear with the integration of IoT and URLLC in the Vehicle to anything (V2X) environment. Many organizations like e.g. IEEE, ETSI, 3GPP or OneM2M are developing standards for V2X on different protocol layers, where V2X could be seen as a special application of automated IoT communication, e.g. for time critical transmission of warning messages between vehicles.

This track is looking to original papers from both academia and industry on the recent advances in theory, application and implementation of the Internet of Things. URLLC and V2X concepts,technologies and applications . Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • IoT architecture design options and system optimizations.
  • IoT security and privacy of IoT devices and services.
  • System optimization to support ultra-low complexity devices.
  • Radio access optimizations for ultra-low power devices.
  • Standardized semantic data description framework and technologies.
  • IoT communication procedure enhancements.
  • Experience and lessons learnt from IoT large-scale pilots.
  • IoT standards platforms interworking.
  • IoT interoperability methodologies.
  • IoT standards gap analysis.
  • 5G networks, IoT and Tactile Internet.
  • Software Defined Network (SDN) and IoT.
  • Industrial Internet of Things.
  • Factory of things.
  • Edge computing, fog computing and IoT.
  • IPv6-based IoT networks.
  • IoT protocols such as IPv6, 6LoWPAN, RPL, 6TiSCH, WoT.
  • IoT security aspects for massive IoT deployments, e.g., embedded SIM management.
  • Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC).
  • URLLC for mission-critical IoT.
  • V2X standards and architectures.
  • Private LTE/ 5G networks.

Track on Softwarization, Slicing, Automation and Network Management

It is nowadays a fact that 5G networks will rely on network softwarization techniques, with Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Service-Based Architecture (SBA) as three of the main pillars. Resorting to these technologies provides indeed unparalleled flexibility to deploy and manage advanced networks that can support the diverse and extreme requirements of future 5G vertical services and use cases, and in particular implement the concept of network slicing. However, they also bring new challenges in many domains such as performance, reliability, security and multi-tenancy. Furthermore, the highly dynamic nature of 5G networks and network slices require advanced service and network management and orchestration approaches, leveraging automation techniques and artificial intelligence to simplify network operations and ultimately achieve a zero-touch management paradigm.

This track is looking to discuss standards-related topics on network softwarization, slicing, and automation, as well as network management. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Architectures and protocols for network automation and zero-touch management.
  • Intelligent-, intent-based and cognitive networking and network management.
  • Programmable architectures and systems for 5G services and verticals.
  • Analysis and considerations for common VNFs across fixed and mobile networks.
  • 5G service-based architecture evolution.
  • Network functions placement in distributed clouds.
  • 5G functional decomposition and deployment.
  • Secure operations in future virtualized networks.
  • Resource management and sharing for network slicing.
  • Scalability and reliability in 5G networks and 5G network slicing.
  • Dedicated and shared network functions in network slices.
  • Cross-slice management for end-to-end QoS.
  • Progress on network slicing standardization (e.g. 3GPP, GSMA, etc.).
  • Evaluation of network softwarization and fundamental trade-offs.
  • Test-bed experience in softwarization and network slicing.
  • SDN architectures and interfaces.
  • SDN programming languages and data models.
  • Progress and future challenges in standardization (e.g. ETSI NFV, IETF/IRTF, etc.).
  • Orchestration and management in SDN and NFV.
  • Multi-domain and multi-tenancy considerations in SDN and NFV.
  • Open Source efforts in relation to SDN and NFV (e.g., ONAP, OPNFV, OpenStack, Open Source MANO).
  • QoS/QoE aspects related to SDN and NFV based network services.

Track on Access Network, Edge Computing and Transport for 5G

The emerging 5G services, directly linked with vertical industry needs, introduce stringent performance requirements on telecoms networks that cannot be met unless a significant network infrastructure upgrade occurs in terms of capacity, latency and jitter assurance, availability, scalability, and reliability. 5G network design is not just limited to the RAN, but it also has end-to-end implications that span all network segments (access, metro, and core), all technology domains (optical and wireless), all types of networks (mobile and transport) and all types of resources (computing, storage, and network) distributed throughout the infrastructure. Ultimately, new network architectures are needed that merge storage and computation into the network infrastructure and allow an end-to-end control of heterogeneous multi-domain infrastructures. These architectures enable a paradigm shift for supporting network operational services, with particular interest in RANs that can take advantage of the high capacity fixed network solutions and enable concepts such as the cloud RAN and network slicing over the crosshaul (i.e., the integrated backhaul, middlehaul, and fronthaul). Furthermore, the introduction of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) standard in ETSI is witnessing the progressive introduction of end-user applications at the edge of the communication network. MEC will bring significant benefits not only for operators but also for vertical industries, third parties and over-the- top (OTT) companies that will have the opportunity to run their applications at the edge of the fixed and mobile network, close to subscribers. In addition, new protocols and routing, including ICN and VPNs enhancements, may assist to enable this landscape facilitating new RAN, crosshaul, andservices technologies.

This track is looking to discuss standards-related topics on access network, edge computing, and transport for 5G. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Multi-Access Edge Computing, Edge-Fog Computing.
  • Routing protocols, segment routing and VPN extensions for 5G slicing.
  • Multi-tenancy, slicing, and control of multi-domain heterogeneous infrastructures.
  • SDN and NFV in access, edge, and transport for 5G
  • Transporting 5G mobile services over optical access networks.
  • SDN solutions for mobile networks and fixed IP cross layer transport and routing.
  • 5G architectures supporting Cloud-RAN and functional split options.
  • 5G architectures supporting fronthaul/middlehaul/backhaul integration.
  • Network slicing issues with multi-RATs devices.
  • End-to- end resource optimization for 5G mobile services: from radio head to data center.
  • Integrated backhaul/middlehaul/fronthaul
  • Backhaul/middlehaul/fronthaul considerations for dynamic capacity and mobility management.
  • Delivering services over ICN in 5G within a framework enabling network slicing.
  • Enhancing 5G backhaul/middlehaul/fronthaul with ICN.
  • Mechanisms and protocol enhancements for Hybrid Access networks.
  • Introduction of ETSI MEC technology and applications on vertical market segments.
  • New user applications at the edge of the communication network.
  • Vertical industry implications to transport, edge computing, and 5G access networks.
  • Insights on pilots, proof-of-concept, and prototypes on access, edge, and transport networks.

Track on Verticals, Services and Applications

The coming years are characterized by the explosion of M2M connections due to the increase of IoT traffic and services, dominated by several new vertical business segments, e.g., automotive and mobility, factories of the future (sometimes referred also as Industry 4.0), health care, media and entertainment, and energy. The development of new communication systems, such as 5G, will be thus acting as enablers for new kind of services and applications with advanced requirements especially in terms of latency, resilience, coverage and bandwidth. From this perspective, the Web is now widely recognized as a powerful platform to provide highly intuitive and user friendly applications. Thus, continuing development of web interfaces and standardization of the same is a central enabler of the emergent interactive communications world. Furthermore, next generation communication systems are expected to integrate different technologies such as mobile, fixed, satellite and optical to offer a more seamless experience to users as they move between locations served by networks of different capabilities. With this increasing demand of new functionalities, new requirements and new use cases, next generation communication networks will need to possess intelligent mechanisms for network orchestration and efficient processing methods of large amounts of data.

This track addresses the above issues. The following topic are of interest, but are not limited to:

  • Specific applications/services for automotive and cooperative vehicles
  • Specific applications/services for robotics and factories of the future
  • Specific applications/services for eHealth and mHealth
  • Specific applications/services for media and entertainment vertical
  • Specific applications/services for the energy industry
  • New introduction of end-user applications at the edge of the communication network
  • Standardization under W3C and standards for future web interoperability
  • Web standardization for interactivity and human interactions with web platforms
  • Specific applications/services for eEducation
  • Interoperability for end-to- end mobile services
  • Standard architectures for service enablers including integrated networks such as mobile, fixed,satellite and optical
  • Open interfaces and open source platforms
  • IETF standardization for CPS
  • Development of mobile service enablers specifications & Standards
  • Standard architectures for delivery of Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and/or Object-Based-Broadcasting by next generation communication systems

Submission Instructions

All submissions have to comply with IEEE’s guidelines. Initial submissions for review are limited to seven (7) pages. Camera-ready papers should not exceed six (6) pages for long papers, and four (4) pages for short papers, including figures without incurring additional page charges (maximum 1 additional page with over length page charge). Papers must be written using the IEEE conference proceedings style format (two-column and 10-point font). View information on IEEE style formats and available templates.

Only timely submissions through EDAS will be accepted for review. Submit your paper here!

Important Dates

Submission Deadline (extended, firm): 1 October 2021 1 November 2021
Acceptance Notification: 22 November 2021
Camera-Ready: 6 December 2021

Organizing Committee

General Co-Chairs

Ed Tiedemann (Qualcomm Technologies Inc, USA)
Periklis Chatzimisios (International Hellenic University, Greece and University of New Mexico, USA)

TPC Co-Chairs

Ashutosh Dutta (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
Konstantinos Samdanis (Nokia Bell Labs, Germany)
Carlos Cordeiro (Intel, USA)
Jon Rosdahl (Qualcomm, USA)