End-to-end experimentation of a 5G vertical within the scope of blended learning

Abstract

The next generation of mobile networks, widely known as 5G, was designed to respond to the next 10 years’ communication challenges. 5G will be an essential structure on which all types of electronic communications will rely. Built on the emerging 5G technology, we developed a vertical solution for blended learning environments within a Portuguese national project scope. The project aims to propose an integrated demonstration of a set of products capable of being part and providing services in the future 5G networks framework. To this end, we adopted a bottom-up approach to design and develop a product named 5GOpenclasses, where we leveraged FIWARE middleware to manage all entities. This paper presents the architecture, technological platform, associated data structures, and end-user applications of 5GOpenclasses. We also present the design of innovative location-based service for blended learning environments. This paper is the first step of the proposed product towards its quantitative evaluation when running Over-the-Top on both 4G and 5G networks. Although successful unit tests were carried out in what concerns the functional outcome, the integration tests for quantitative results depend on the availability of other project components.