LabVIEW based platform for prototyping dense LTE networks in CROWD project

Abstract

Next generation wireless networks (5G) have to cope with significant traffic increase due to high quality video transmission and cloud-based applications. Such requirements create the need for a revolutionary change in architecture rather than a series of local and incremental technology updates. A dense heterogeneous deployment of small cells such as pico/femto cells in addition to high power macro cells is foreseen as one of the potential solutions to achieve these requirements. While there is significant amount of research in this area that relies on simulations at PHY, MAC and higher layers, it is still necessary to validate the algorithms for next generation systems in a real-time testbed. However, the ever increasing complexity in all layers of current and future generations of cellular wireless systems has made an end-to-end demonstration of the network limited to industrial research labs or large academic institutions. In this paper, we show a LabVIEW 1 based PXI platform in which LTElike SISO OFDM PHY Layer is integrated with an open source protocol stack to prototype PHY/MAC cross layer algorithms within CROWD 2 Software Defined Networking (SDN) framework as a solution to tame dense deployment of wireless networks.

Vehicular cloud computing in the dawn of 5G

“…They enhance wireless mechanics by controlling the Almost-Blank SubFrame mechanism, as well as cellular offloading and opportunistic spectrum utilization. Whereas in [34] it was proposed the use of distributed mobility management instead of the centralized approach. It is noted that decentralization is key to wielding the magnitude of these huge flexible networks.…”

Tackling the Increased Density of 5G Networks: The CROWD Approach

“…In general, a CLC controller interacts with the MAC layer of eNBs to influence parameters related to scheduling; however, this interface can be easily extended to higher layers of the protocol stack. We use open source NS-3 LTE LENA stack [18] for implementing higher layers. Our proposal of using NS-3 for both simulations and prototyping has significant impact in reducing the time from simulations-to-prototyping dense LTE networks within a lab environment.…”

ns-3-based real-time emulation of LTE testbed using LabVIEW platform for software defined networking (SDN) in CROWD project

“…The main contribution of this paper is to expand on our previous work [8,9,10] and describe the changes needed within the MAC/PHY interface in the ns-3 LENA stack and core simulator to enable real-time emulation with the LabVIEW PXI platform. Distributed Mobility Management (DMM) is presented as an example use case for this testbed.…”

“…Hence, we chose to extend the ns-3 LENA stack [6,7] to enable real-time emulation and define a custom API for interfacing with an external FPGAbased LabVIEW PHY layer. The interested reader is referred to the overall system and physical layer architecture of the CROWD testbed presented in [8,9,10].…”