Cost-aware service function chain migration in satellite-ground integrated networks

Abstract

The integration of satellite and ground networks (SGIN) represents a significant advancement in the evolution of 6G mobile technologies. The rapid movement of satellites leads to swift changes in network topology. By adjusting the Service Function Chain (SFC) to these frequent changes, it's possible to diminish SFC delay and enhance the user experience. This study addresses the challenge of SFC migration within the dynamic SGIN framework. We initially developed a mathematical formulation for the VNF migration and SFC reconfiguration task, with the objective of optimizing the total system benefits. An enhanced genetic algorithm was introduced as a solution, striking an optimal compromise between SFC delay and the expenses associated with migration. When we compare our findings to previous algorithms, it's clear that our method substantially reduces the costs linked to network migration, enhances the overall profitability of services, and achieves a more favorable balance between SFC latency and migration costs.