Real-time HSPA emulator for end-to-edge QoS evaluation in all-IP beyond 3G heterogeneous wireless networks

ABSTRACT

This paper is aimed at presenting the real-time High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) emulator that has been developed in the framework of the AROMA project. Real-time emulators allow reproducing realistic scenarios to test algorithms, strategies, protocols and applications under realistic conditions. Therefore, real-time emulators constitute a powerful tool to evaluate the end-user's Quality of Experience (QoE), which could not be achieved by means of off-line simulations. The presented emulator is integrated in the AROMA real-time testbed, which has been developed to provide a framework for demonstrating the benefits of the common radio resource management algorithms as well as the proposed end-to-edge Quality of Service (QoS) management techniques developed for all-IP beyond 3G heterogeneous wireless networks in the context of the AROMA project. This paper presents a qualitative description of the developed tool, emphasizing some interesting implementation details that may result helpful in the development of similar emulation platforms. Some illustrative results, showing the capabilities of the developed tool, are also presented and analyzed.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.3 Applications

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.7 Simulation Support Systems
          Subjects: Environments

  J. Computer Applications
  J.2 PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
      Subjects: Engineering

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Experimentation, Measurement, Performance, Verification

Keywords:
all-IP networks, beyond 3G networks, end-to-edge quality of service, heterogeneous wireless networks, high speed packet access, real-time emulation, real-time testbed