Modeling and Simulation of Computer Networks and Systems

Methodologies and Applications

Faouzi Zarai, Petros Nicopolitidis

• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780128011584
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Computer Networking
• Index: Computer Science

Modeling and Simulation of Computer Networks and Systems: Methodologies and Applications introduces you to a broad array of modeling and simulation issues related to computer networks and systems. It focuses on the theories, tools, applications and uses of modeling and simulation in order to effectively optimize networks. It describes methodologies for modeling and simulation of new generations of wireless and mobiles networks and cloud and grid computing systems.

Drawing upon years of practical experience and using numerous examples and illustrative applications recognized experts in both academia and industry, discuss:

• Important and emerging topics in computer networks and systems including but not limited to; modeling, simulation, analysis and security of wireless and mobiles networks especially as they relate to next generation wireless networks
• Methodologies, strategies and tools, and strategies needed to build computer networks and systems modeling and simulation from the bottom up
• Different network performance metrics including, mobility, congestion, quality of service, security and more...

Modeling and Simulation of Computer Networks and Systems is a must have resource for network architects, engineers and researchers who want to gain insight into optimizing network performance through the use of modeling and simulation.

• Discusses important and emerging topics in computer networks and Systems including but not limited to; modeling, simulation, analysis and security of wireless and mobiles networks especially as they relate to next generation wireless networks
• Provides the necessary methodologies, strategies and tools needed to build computer networks and systems modeling and simulation from the bottom up
• Includes comprehensive review and evaluation of simulation tools and methodologies and different network performance metrics including mobility, congestion, quality of service, security and more

Part 1

Protocols and services in computer networks and systems

Outline

Chapter 1 Wireless and mobile technologies and protocols and their performance evaluation

Chapter 2 Network planning and designing

Chapter 3 Rate adaptation algorithms for reliable multicast transmissions in wireless LANs

Chapter 4 Simulation techniques for evaluating energy-efficient heuristics for backbone optical networks

Chapter 5 Wireless cognitive network technologies and protocols

Chapter 1

Wireless and mobile technologies and protocols and their performance evaluation

Salima Samaoui¹, Imen El Bouabidi¹, Mohammad S. Obaidat², Faouzi Zarai¹ and Wahida Mansouri¹, ¹University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia, ²Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, USA

Wireless and mobile technologies have experienced exponential growth over the last decade. In fact, cellular networks have experienced four generations of technology revolution, namely from 1G to 4G. In addition, wireless local area networks (LANs) are presently poised to supplement wired networks in most developed countries as well as in many developing ones. The main goal of an evolution to another technology is to offer a considerable improvement in the performance by enabling wireless devices to access the Internet and multimedia applications in an efficient manner, improving security services, defining a set of quality of service enhancements, among others. In this chapter, we cover the evolution of the wireless and mobile networks, their basic principles of operation, and their architectures. The chapter also presents various network layer protocols and details a comprehensive taxonomy of simulation tools. An analysis and comparison between different simulators is made. Finally, we present a simulation case study to show the influence of mobility models and the role of modeling and simulation to predict the performance of wireless and mobile systems.

Keywords

Wireless Mobile Systems; Protocols of Wireless Networks; Modeling and Simulation; Performance Evaluation

1 Introduction

Currently, wireless and mobile technology has enjoyed rapid growth, an exceptional paradigm shift in design methodology, and considerable improvement in the performance of mobile broadband wireless access technologies, both in professional and general usage. Ensuring communication services anytime, anywhere and even while mobile has been a critical need for connected people. Indeed, the increasing demand for various wireless data and multimedia applications, mobile Internet, and enhanced quality and higher capacity of wireless networks has attracted the attention of the worldwide research community and has become a priority for the standards development organizations.

In parallel with the evolution of the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), we are also seeing an evolution of cellular networks. In fact, the history of cell systems has traditionally been viewed as a sequence of successive generations. The first generation (1G) was entirely analog, whereas the second generation (2G) is a digital system, which appeared in the 1990s with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) to improve modulation, voice codecs and security service. This was followed by the third generation (3G), which was envisaged to allow full multimedia data transmission in addition to voice communications. However, 3G systems proved to have limitations with the new multimedia applications, which led to the introduction of the fourth generation (4G) radio access system, referred to as the LTE and LTE-Advanced standards, which are able to offer high bandwidth for the new applications [1].

In order to give background information on this evolution of technologies, this chapter offers a survey of previous, current and emerging wireless and mobile technologies and standards and their performance evaluation using modeling and simulation techniques. We begin by introducing the second generation with its intermediate generations, followed by the 3G system with its associated amendments. Next we describe in more detail the fourth generation (4G) system. We also provide an overview of the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems, a review of performance metrics and provide case studies. Then we make concluding remarks.

2 Wireless and mobile technologies

2.1 2G and 2.5G technologies

While the first generation (1G) mobile network offered a good voice quality, it provided limited spectral efficiency. In fact, the reduced spectral resources, the short battery life and the cost of the terminal were obstacles that have limited the early development of the first generation mobile phones [2]. This is why the evolution towards the second generation (2G) was required in order to overcome the drawbacks of the technology at the beginning of the 1990s. Several digital technologies were developed, including:

• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

• Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).

2.1.1 GSM

At first, GSM was designed as a circuit-switched system in a similar way to fixed-line phone networks that establish between two users an exclusive and direct connection on every interface [3]. The GSM chooses a combination of FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) to divide the bandwidth in order to exploit the limited radio spectrum resource shared by all users. The GSM architecture consists of four basic components [1]:

• The Mobile Station (MS) consists of the terminal equipment and the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

• The Base Station Subsystem (BSS) handles the radio access functions and includes the Base Transceiver System (BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC).

• The Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS) is also called the core network, which includes all nodes and functionalities that are necessary for control and switching of calls between different mobile and fixed switching centers and other networks, for subscriber management and mobility management. NSS consists of MSC, which represents a central element responsible for all processing of voice and data communications, the HLR that contains all subscription details of each subscriber registered in the network, the VLR that contains similar information to the HLR, but on a temporary basis for every active mobile.

• The Operation Sub-System (OSS) contains all the functions necessary for network operation and maintenance. It facilitates the operations of MSCs....

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• List of contributors
• Preface
• Part 1: Protocols and services in computer networks and systems
• Part 2: Approaches in performance evaluation
• Part 3: Modeling approaches of computer networks and systems
• Part 4: Simulation methodologies in computer networks and systems
• Part 5: Next generation wireless networks evaluations
• Part 6: Modeling and simulation for system security
• Index