An open-source virtual set-top-box for softwarized networks

Network "softwarization" is gaining increasing popularity to achieve dynamicity and flexibility. Cloud computing, together with the new paradigms of SDN and NFV are supporting this evolution. However, the need to move services closer to users to guarantee low latency in the service fruition on one hand, and the trend to support personalization of services on the other hand, are stimulating a migration of the services toward edge nodes. This is the target of the platform proposed in the INPUT project to support Future Internet personal cloud services in a more scalable and sustainable way. The INPUT platform enables next-generation cloud applications to go beyond classical service models replacing physical smart home devices, with virtual entities, providing them to users "as a Service." In this paper, we discuss the design and open-source implementation of a virtual Set-Top-Box that is compliant to the INPUT platform.