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Multi-Source Multicast SFCs Embedding in Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks

delete2026-07-27
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PRE
AI
L
Liang Liu
Y
Yejun He
Y
Yujie Zhang
S
Siyuan Tan
G
Guiyan Liu
H
Hao Feng
J
Jie Duan
S
Songtao Guo
DOI:10.1109/tnsm.2026.3717453delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGINs) offer seamless three-dimensional coverage and strengthened flexibility, which are recognized as a core network architecture of 6G. Software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) are two enabling technologies for SAGINs that can be utilized to sequentially arrange virtual network functions (VNFs) into service function chains (SFCs) to provide users with resource-efficient and delay-optimized multi-source multicast request (MMR) services. However, SAGINs exhibit significant dynamism and heterogeneity, it brings great challenges when dynamically deploying the MMR’s source nodes and SFCs for fulfilling MMR routing. This paper investigates the multi-source multicast SFC embedding problem (MMSEP) considering the determination of the source nodes for MMR, VNFs placement, as well as network resources and delay constraints in the SDN/NFV-enabled SAGIN. Firstly, we define and formulate the MMSEP and demonstrate its NP-hardness. Subsequently, we employ a heuristic algorithm to assign the optimal source nodes for all multicast destination nodes and utilize the markov decision process (MDP) to simulate dynamic transitions in network states. Finally, we propose a deep deterministic policy gradient with attention mechanism (DDPG-AM) to address the MMSEP, aiming to minimize resource consumption costs and delays while maximizing the revenue of the internet service provider. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm surpasses the state-of-the-art DDPG algorithm by approximately 27% in network utility, 17% in latency reduction, and 5% in acceptance ratio.
Keywords:
Space-air-ground integrated network
multi-source multicast
service function chain embedding
deep reinforcement learning
attention mechanism

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management cover
IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management
IF:
5.4
Papers:
509
Citations:
9.2K

Organization

C
chongqing university
Scholars:
1.0W
Papers: 3.9K
Citations: 1
S
Shanxi University of Finance and Economics
Scholars:
186
Papers: 110
Citations: 654
C
Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Scholars:
2.2K
Papers: 875
Citations: 3.8K
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