5G and Beyond networks promise low-latency support for applications that need to deliver mission-critical data with strict deadlines. However, innovations on the physical and medium access layers are not sufficient. Additional considerations are needed to support applications under different network topologies, and while network setting and data paths change. Such support could be developed at the transport layer, ensuring end-to-end latency in a dynamic network and connectivity environment. In this paper, we present a partial reliability framework, which governs per-packet reliability through bespoke policies at the transport layer. The framework follows a no-ack and no-retransmit philosophy for unreliable transmission of packets, yet maintains cooperation with its reliable counterpart for arbitrary use of either transmission mode. This can then address latency and reliability fluctuations in a changing network environment, by smartly altering packet reliability. Our evaluations are conducted using mininet to simulate real-world network characteristics, while using a video streaming application as a real-time use-case. The results demonstrate the reduction of session packet volume and backlogged packets, with little to no effect on the freshness of the packet updates.

翻译：5G及 Beyond 网络承诺为需要严格时限传输关键任务数据的应用提供低延迟支持。然而，物理层和介质访问层的创新并不足够。还需要额外考虑不同网络拓扑下的应用支持，尤其是在网络设置和数据路径发生变化时。这种支持可以在传输层开发，确保动态网络和连接环境中的端到端延迟。本文提出了一种部分可靠性框架，通过传输层的定制策略管理逐包可靠性。该框架对不可靠数据包的传输遵循无确认和无重传原则，同时与其可靠对应部分保持协作，以任意选择任一传输模式。这能够通过智能调整数据包可靠性，应对变化网络环境中的延迟和可靠性波动。我们使用mininet模拟真实网络特性进行实验评估，并以视频流应用作为实时用例。结果表明，该方法减少了会话数据包数量和积压数据包，同时几乎不影响数据包更新的新鲜度。