{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,9]],"date-time":"2026-07-09T15:13:56Z","timestamp":1783610036586,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,25]],"date-time":"2024-07-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1721865600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001872","name":"CDTI","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["6G-DIFERENTE (CER-20231018)"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["6G-DIFERENTE (CER-20231018)"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001872","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001872","name":"CDTI","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Ayudas Cervera para Centros Tecnol\u00f3gicos 2023"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Ayudas Cervera para Centros Tecnol\u00f3gicos 2023"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001872","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"European Union NextGenerationEU\/PRTR","award":["6G-DIFERENTE (CER-20231018)"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["6G-DIFERENTE (CER-20231018)"]}]},{"name":"European Union NextGenerationEU\/PRTR","award":["Ayudas Cervera para Centros Tecnol\u00f3gicos 2023"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Ayudas Cervera para Centros Tecnol\u00f3gicos 2023"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>As the global deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) is being well consolidated, the exploration of Sixth Generation (6G) wireless networks has intensified, focusing on novel Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Value Indicators (KVIs) that extend beyond traditional metrics like throughput and latency. As 5G begins transitioning to vertical-oriented applications, 6G aims go beyond, providing a ubiquitous communication experience by integrating diverse Radio Access Networks (RANs) and fixed-access networks to form a hyper-converged edge. This unified platform will enable seamless network federation, thus realizing the so-called network of networks vision. Emphasizing energy efficiency, the present paper discusses the importance of reducing telecommunications\u2019 environmental impact, aligning with global sustainability goals. Central to this vision is the proposal of a novel user plane network protocol architecture, called 6G Recursive User Plane Architecture (6G-RUPA), designed to be scalable, flexible, and energy-efficient. Briefly, 6G-RUPA offers superior flexibility in network adaptation, federation, scalability, and mobility management, aiming to enhance overall network performance and sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of 6G\u2019s potential, from its conceptual framework to the high-level design of 6G-RUPA, addressing current challenges and proposing actionable solutions for next-generation mobile networks.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers13080186","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,25]],"date-time":"2024-07-25T14:31:07Z","timestamp":1721917867000},"page":"186","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["6G-RUPA: A Flexible, Scalable, and Energy-Efficient User Plane Architecture for Next-Generation Mobile Networks"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9783-3209","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Gim\u00e9nez-Ant\u00f3n","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Computer Architecture, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTech, 08034 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Software Networks Research Group, Fundaci\u00f3 i2CAT, 08034 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4909-7416","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eduard","family":"Grasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Operations and Digital Infrastructure and Services, Fundaci\u00f3 i2CAT, 08034 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6563-2664","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jordi","family":"Perell\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Computer Architecture, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya (UPC)-BarcelonaTech, 08034 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8725-7786","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andr\u00e9s","family":"C\u00e1rdenas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Software Networks Research Group, Fundaci\u00f3 i2CAT, 08034 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Amaya, F., and Bahia, K. 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