5G and beyond mobile network technology promises to deliver unprecedented ultra-low latency and high data rates, paving the way for many novel applications and services. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) are two technologies expected to play a vital role in achieving ambitious Quality of Service requirements of such applications. While NFV provides flexibility by enabling network functions to be dynamically deployed and inter-connected to realize Service Function Chains (SFC), MEC brings the computing capability to the mobile network's edges, thus reducing latency and alleviating the transport network load. However, adequate mechanisms are needed to meet the dynamically changing network service demands (i.e., in single and multiple domains) and optimally utilize the network resources while ensuring that the end-to-end latency requirement of services is always satisfied. In this dissertation work, we break the problem into three separate stages and present the solutions for each one of them.Firstly, we apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to drive NFV resource orchestration in MEC-enabled 5G architectures for single and multi-domain scenarios. We propose three deep learning approaches to perform horizontal and vertical Virtual Network Function (VNF) auto-scaling: (i) Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) classification and regression (single-domain), (ii) Centralized Artificial Neural Network (ANN), centralized Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) and centralized Convolutional Neural Network-LSTM (CNN-LSTM) (single-domain), and (iii) Federated ANN, federated LSTM and federated CNN-LSTM (multi-domain). We evaluate the performance of each of these deep learning models trained over a commercial network operator dataset and investigate the pros and cons of different approaches for VNF auto-scaling. For the first approach, our results show that both MLP classifier and MLP regressor models have strong predicting capability for auto-scaling. However, MLP regressor outperforms MLP classifier in terms of accuracy. For the second approach (one-step prediction), CNN-LSTM performs the best for the QoS-prioritized objective and LSTM performs the best for the cost-prioritized objective. For the second approach (multi-step prediction), the encoder-decoder CNN-LSTM model outperforms the encoder-decoder LSTM model for both QoS and Cost prioritized objectives. For the third approach, both federated LSTM and federated CNN-LSTM models perform equally better than the federated ANN model. It was also noted that in general federated learning approaches performs poorly compared to centralized learning approaches. Secondly, we employ Integer Linear Programming (ILP) techniques to formulate and solve a joint user association and SFC placement problem, where each SFC represents a service requested by a user with end-to-end latency and data rate requirements. We also develop a comprehensive end-to-end latency model considering radio delay, backhaul network delay and SFC processing delay for 5G mobile networks. We evaluated the proposed model using simulations based on real-operator network topology and real-world latency values. Our results show that the average end-to-end latency reduces significantly when SFCs are placed at the ME hosts according to their latency and data rate demands. Furthermore, we propose an heuristic algorithm to address the issue of scalability in ILP, that can solve the above association/mapping problem in seconds rather than hours.Finally, we introduce lightMEC - a lightweight MEC platform for deploying mobile edge computing functionalities which allows hosting of low-latency and bandwidth-intensive applications at the network edge. Measurements conducted over a real-life test demonstrated that lightMEC could actually support practical MEC applications without requiring any change to existing mobile network nodes' functionality in the access and core network segments. The significant benefits of adopting the proposed architecture are analyzed based on a proof-of-concept demonstration of the content caching use case. Furthermore, we introduce the AI-driven Kubernetes orchestration prototype that we implemented by leveraging the lightMEC platform and assess the performance of the proposed deep learning models (from stage 1) in an experimental setup. The prototype evaluations confirm the simulation results achieved in stage 1 of the thesis.

<p dir="ltr">Bandit and optimization represent prominent areas of machine learning research. Despite extensive prior research on these topics in various contexts, modern challenges, such as deal- ing with highly unsmooth nonlinear reward objectives and incorporating federated learning, have sparked new discussions. The X-armed bandit problem is a specialized case where bandit algorithms and blackbox optimization techniques join forces to address noisy reward functions within continuous domains to minize the regret. This thesis concentrates on the X -armed bandit problem in a modern setting. In the first chapter, we introduce an optimal statistical collaboration framework for the single-client X -armed bandit problem, expanding the range of objectives by considering more general smoothness assumptions and empha- sizing tighter statistical error measures to expedite learning. The second chapter addresses the federated X-armed bandit problem, providing a solution for collaboratively optimizing the average global objective while ensuring client privacy. In the third chapter, we confront the more intricate personalized federated X -armed bandit problem. An enhanced algorithm facilitating the simultaneous optimization of all local objectives is proposed.</p>

In the past 10 years, the growth of machine learning technology has been significant, largely due to the availability of large datasets for training. However, gathering a sufficient amount of data on a central server can be challenging. Additionally, with the rise of mobile networking and the large amounts of data generated by IoT devices, privacy and security issues have become a concern, resulting in government regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and ADPPA. Under these circumstances, traditional centralized machine learning methods face a problem in that sensitive data must be kept locally for privacy reasons, making it difficult to achieve the desired learning outcomes. Federated learning (FL) offers a solution to this by allowing for a global shared model to be trained by exchanging locally computed optimums instead of sharing the actual data. Despite its success as a natural solution for IoT machine learning implementation, Federated learning (FL) still faces challenges with regards to security and performance. These include high communication costs between IoT devices and the central server, the potential for sensitive information leakage and reduced model precision due to the aggregation process in the distributed IoT network, and performance concerns caused by the heterogeneity of data and devices in the network. In this dissertation, I present practical and effective techniques with strong theoretical supports to address these challenges. To optimize communication resources, I introduce a new multi-server FL framework called MS-FedAvg. To enhance security, I propose a robust defense algorithm called LoMar. To address data heterogeneity, I present FedLGA, and for device heterogeneity, I propose FedSAM.

The rarity and subtle radiographic features of atypical femoral fractures (AFF) make it difficult to distinguish radiologically from normal femoral fractures (NFF). Compared with NFF, AFF has subtle radiological features and is associated with the long-term use of bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis. Automatically classifying AFF and NFF not only helps improve the diagnosis rate of AFF but also helps patients receive timely treatment. In recent years, automatic classification technologies for AFF and NFF have continued to emerge, including but not limited to the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), vision transformers (ViTs), and multimodal deep learning prediction models. The above methods are all based on deep learning and require the use of centralized radiograph datasets. However, centralizing medical radiograph data involves issues such as patient privacy and data heterogeneity. Firstly, radiograph data is difficult to share among hospitals, and relevant laws or guidelines prohibit the dissemination of these data; Second, there were overall radiological differences among the different hospital datasets, and deep learning does not fully consider the fusion problem of these multi-source heterogeneous datasets. Based on federated learning, we implemented a distributed deep learning strategy to avoid the use of centralized datasets, thereby protecting the local radiograph datasets of medical institutions and patient privacy. To achieve this goal, we studied approximately 4000 images from 72 hospitals in Sweden, containing 206 AFF patients and 744 NFF patients. By dispersing the radiograph datasets of different hospitals across 3-5 nodes, we can simulate the real-world data distribution scenarios, train the local models of the nodes separately, and aggregate the global model, combined with percentile privacy protection, to further protect the security of the local datasets; in addition, we compare the performance of federated learning models using different aggregation algorithms (FedAvg, FedProx, and FedOpt). In the end, the federated learning global model we obtained is better than these local training models, and the performance of federated learning models is close to the performance of the centralized learning model. It is even better than the centralized learning model in some metrics. We conducted 3-node and 5-node federation learning training respectively. Limited by the data set size of each node, 5-node federated learning does not show any more significant performance than 3-node federated learning. Federated learning is more conducive to collaborative training of high-quality prediction models among medical institutions, but also fully protects sensitive medical data. We believe that it will become a paradigm for collaborative training models in the foreseeable future.

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Traditional Machine Learning (ML) methods usually rely on a central server to per-form ML tasks. However, these methods have problems like security risks, datastorage issues, and high computational demands. Federated Learning (FL), on theother hand, spreads out the ML process. It trains models on local devices and thencombines them centrally. While FL improves computing and customization, it stillfaces the same challenges as centralized ML in security and data storage. This thesis introduces a new approach combining Federated Learning and Decen-tralized Machine Learning (DML), which operates on an Ethereum Virtual Machine(EVM) compatible blockchain. The blockchain’s security and decentralized naturehelp improve transparency, trust, scalability, and efficiency. The main contributionsof this thesis include:1. Redesigning a semi-centralized system with enhanced privacy and the multi-KRUM algorithm, following the work of Shayan et al..2. Developing a new decentralized framework that supports both standard anddeep-learning FL, using the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and EthereumVirtual Machine (EVM)-compatible Smart Contracts.3. Assessing how well the system defends against common data poisoning attacks,using a version of Multi-KRUM that’s better at detecting outliers.4. Applying privacy methods to securely combine data from different sources.

With increasing amounts of data coming fromconnecting progressively more devices, new machine learningmodels have risen. For wireless networks the idea of using adistributed approach to machine learning has gained increasingpopularity, where all nodes in the network participate in creatinga global machine learning model by training with the localdata stored at each node, an example of this approach is calledfederated learning. However, traditional communication protocolshave been proven inefficient. This opens up opportunities todesign new machine-learning specific communication schemes.The concept ofOver-the-air computationis built on the fact thata wireless communication channel can naturally compute somelinear functions, for instance the sum. If all nodes in a networktransmits simultaneously to a server, the signals are aggregatedbefore reaching the server. / I takt med denökande datamängden frånallt fler uppkopplade enheter har nya modeller för mask-ininlärning dykt upp. För trådlösa nätverk har idén att appliceradecentraliserade maskininlärnings modellerökat i popularitet,där alla noder i nätverket bidrar till en global maskininlärningsmodell genom att träna på den data som finns lokalt på varjenod. Ett exempel på en sådan metodärFederated Learning.Traditionella metoder för kommunikation har visat sig varaineffektiva vilket öppnar upp möjligheten för att designa nyamaskininlärningsspecifika kommunikationsscheman. Konceptetover-the-air computationutnyttjar det faktum att en trådlöskommunikationskanal naturligt kan beräkna vissa funktioner,som exempelvis en summa. Om alla noder i nätverket sändertill en server samtidigt aggregeras signalerna genom interferensinnan de når servern. / Kandidatexjobb i elektroteknik 2020, KTH, Stockholm

With rapid growth in the complexity of large scale engineering systems, the application of multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization (MDO) in the engineering design process has garnered much attention. MDO addresses the challenge of integrating several different disciplines into the design process. Primary challenges of MDO include computational expense and poor scalability. The introduction of a distributed, collaborative computational environment results in better utilization of available computational resources, reducing the time to solution, and enhancing scalability. SORCER, a Java-based network-centric computing platform, enables analyses and design studies in a distributed collaborative computing environment. Two different optimization algorithms widely used in multidisciplinary engineering design---VTDIRECT95 and QNSTOP---are implemented on a SORCER grid. VTDIRECT95, a Fortran 95 implementation of D. R. Jones' algorithm DIRECT, is a highly parallelizable derivative-free deterministic global optimization algorithm. QNSTOP is a parallel quasi-Newton algorithm for stochastic optimization problems. The purpose of integrating VTDIRECT95 and QNSTOP into the SORCER framework is to provide load balancing among computational resources, resulting in a dynamically scalable process. Further, the federated computing paradigm implemented by SORCER manages distributed services in real time, thereby significantly speeding up the design process. Results are included for an aircraft design application. / Master of Science

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) holds immense potential for revolutionizing transporta- tion systems by facilitating seamless vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. However, challenges such as congestion, pollution, and security per- sist, particularly in rural areas with limited infrastructure. Existing centralized solu- tions are impractical in such environments due to latency and privacy concerns. To address these challenges, we propose a decentralized clustering algorithm enhanced with Federated Deep Reinforcement Learning (FDRL). Our approach enables low- latency communication, competitive packet delivery ratios, and cluster stability while preserving data privacy. Additionally, we introduce a trust-based security framework for IoV environments, integrating a central authority and trust engine to establish se- cure communication and interaction among vehicles and infrastructure components. Through these innovations, we contribute to safer, more efficient, and trustworthy IoV deployments, paving the way for widespread adoption and realizing the transfor- mative potential of IoV technologies.