Design and implementation of 3GPP MAC layer prominent features in OPNET

Project goal

Comparison of 3GPP Release 10 and 802.16m characteristics in Opnet Modeler.  Implementation of MU-MIMO and scheduling algorithms for MU-MIMO for 3GPP Release 10 and Wimax in Opnet Modeler.

This project is supported by grant of Nokia Siemens Networks in Russia to Mikhail Gerasimenko for studies abroad (at Tampere University of Technology).

Introduction

This research is based on work of Russian Evaluation Group [1], which purpose was to perform evaluation of two candidate radio interface technologies (RIT) submitted to ITU, namely IEEE 802.16m (IEEE RIT based on ADV/4) and 3GPP Release 10 and beyond (3GPP RIT based on ADV/8). The idea of this research is to use Opnet Modeler to simulate the same scenarios, that was presented in [1] and compare the results. Opnet modeler has powerful instruments for modeling MAC and higher layers, hence it is interesting to implement some new physical layers futures, such as MU-MIMO and after comparison of the results try to implement different scheduling algorithms. After that, the developed model can be tested in Opnet modeler with different types of traffic, that will show if this algorithms will be efficient in real networks or not. The physical layer, implemented in Opnet modeler must be tested and compared with one described in [1]. Some practical results can be also obtained for comparison by using commercial Wimax Yota network.

Project description

1. Obtaining initial knowledge about Opnet modeler
    Duration: 2 month

2. Simulation of 3GPP Release 10 and 802.16m network environments, comparison of the  results with  practical measurements
Subtask: Creating a simple traffic generation application in Opnet modeler for testing purposes. 802.16m practical parameters measurements.
    Duration: 3 months

3. Creation and simulation of scenarios [1], comparison of the results.  
Subtask: similar simulations,  based on open source LTE simulator, which description can be found in 2, comparison of the results
    Duration: 3 month

    Milestone 1

4. Implementation MU-MIMO in Opnet modeler. Implementation of scheduling algorithm, proposed in [1]
    Duration: 3 month

5. Preparing final report
    Duration: 1 month

    Milestone 2
    Deliverables: final reports describing experiments results and analysis
    Project duration: 12 months
    Project start date: 3.08.2011

6. Long-term plan
Implementation of new physical layer features in Opnet modeler can be used for future tests of higher layers structures, which can be easily simulated in Opnet. Not only 3GPP Release 10 and 802.16m can be created, also some upcoming technologies such as IEEE 802.11ad standard can be easily implemented and tested in Opnet.

Project members

Mikhail Gerasimenko
Sergey Andreev
Yevgeni Koucheryavy

References

[1]  Analysis of IEEE 802.16m and 3GPP LTE Release 10 technologies by Russian Evaluation Group for IMT-Advanced
[2]  Giuseppe Piro, Luigi Alfredo Grieco, Gennaro Boggia, Francesco Capozzi, and Pietro Camarda", Simulating LTE Cellular Systems: an Open Source Framework", IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 60, no. 2, Feb, 2011, doi: 10.1109/TVT.2010.2091660