  In this paper, the problem of proactive caching is studied for cloud radio
access networks (CRANs). In the studied model, the baseband units (BBUs) can
predict the content request distribution and mobility pattern of each user,
determine which content to cache at remote radio heads and BBUs. This problem
is formulated as an optimization problem which jointly incorporates backhaul
and fronthaul loads and content caching. To solve this problem, an algorithm
that combines the machine learning framework of echo state networks with
sublinear algorithms is proposed. Using echo state networks (ESNs), the BBUs
can predict each user's content request distribution and mobility pattern while
having only limited information on the network's and user's state. In order to
predict each user's periodic mobility pattern with minimal complexity, the
memory capacity of the corresponding ESN is derived for a periodic input. This
memory capacity is shown to be able to record the maximum amount of user
information for the proposed ESN model. Then, a sublinear algorithm is proposed
to determine which content to cache while using limited content request
distribution samples. Simulation results using real data from Youku and the
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications show that the proposed
approach yields significant gains, in terms of sum effective capacity, that
reach up to 27.8% and 30.7%, respectively, compared to random caching with
clustering and random caching without clustering algorithm.
