Latency as a service: Enabling reliable data delivery over multiple unreliable wireless links

Interactive cloud-based applications such as virtual reality telepresence require flawless data delivery well within interactivity deadlines. These can range from sub-ms intervals for machines-type communications in industrial settings (e.g., multi-view obstacle detection for mobile vehicles) to 100 ms for basic human-human interactivity (e.g., virtual office, remote cockpit). Yet in wireless networks serving mobile users, the support of any quality-of-service (QoS) constraints is challenging due to their inherent instability and best-effort nature. In this context, we propose a novel multi-connectivity framework that allows federating multiple wireless links such as 4G LTE, 5G New Radio, Wi-Fi and WiGig in a simple and backward-compatible manner, and use them for multi-path data delivery with controlled end-to-end throughput, latency and reliability. The proposal is based on software-defined transport-layer proxies that can be deployed instantaneously and upgraded on-demand with no need for any handset or network modifications. As a proof of concept, we evaluate several innovative protocols for user-centric bandwidth and latency control in real-life LTE and Wi-Fi networks.