Novel radio environment map for the ns-3 NR simulator

Abstract

Radio Environmental Map (REM) is a useful tool to visualize the network coverage, including signal quality and interference, in multi-cell scenarios. Although REM maps for omnidirectional transmissions/receptions and tools to visualize the spatial shape of a single directional transmission are available in ns-3, for example in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiGig modules, respectively, REM maps for directional transmissions/receptions in multi-cell scenarios are not available yet, despite the fact that they constitute an extremely useful tool for the beam design phase in complex realistic settings. In this paper, we present a REM map implementation that includes various REM map definitions for multi-cell scenarios with directional transmissions/receptions. This includes Beam Shape REM maps, in which a pre-configured beam at each transmitting device is used, and Coverage Area REM maps, in which a worst-case propagation scenario is considered for each location, assuming the worst-case directional interference towards each point of reception of the REM map. We particularize REM maps for Downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL) communications, as well as for heterogeneous networks and scenarios with blockages originated by the surrounding environment. Finally, we present multiple illustrative images as examples of each of the possible REM maps that can be extracted with the newly developed tool. The work presented in this paper is publicly available in the 5G-LENA module. CCS CONCEPTS• Networks → Network simulations; Mobile networks.

Calibration of the 5G-LENA System Level Simulator in 3GPP reference scenarios

“…5G-LENA's REM feature has been presented in [16], implemented in the NrRadioEnvironmentMapHelper class. It allows the network status visualization, so that the phases of network design and analysis can be facilitated and accelerated.…”

“…We have used the 5G-LENA REM feature as a means to understand the network conditions and find the proper configuration for the first studied case, the Rural-eMBB Configuration A and B test scenarios. Notice that REM actual/effective coverage map in the tested scenario [16]).…”

“…For the calibration process, it can also result helpful to exploit Radio Environment Maps (REMs), if available, in order to verify the deployment and propagation conditions and eventually find the proper configuration. The REM tool can provide information related to the network interference and the signal quality, providing better knowledge of the radio environment [16,17]. This information can be very useful for the study and analysis of the radio propagation environment, and eventually can be used for the calibration process.…”

“…In this respect, this paper is focused on the calibration of the 5G-LENA simulator based on the 3GPP reference results for outdoor deployments. In addition, since the 5G-LENA accounts with the REM feature [16], the calibration process followed here has been carried out by exploiting these maps, proving their importance in the network design and analysis. Based on the above, the main contribution of this paper is to give to the community an open source tool that allows the testing, evaluation, validation, and experimentation of existing and/or new features, guaranteeing the resemblance of the results to that of an industrial private product or of a real network.…”

Análise de Cobertura 5G mmWave usando o ns-3

“…Conforme o que vem sendo usado em trabalhos sobre análise de cobertura, este artigo realiza um estudo sobre o impacto do posicionamento de antenas, bem como de suas potências, em cenários de cobertura indoor na faixa de mmWave, por meio da geração de REMs no módulo 5G-LENA [5] do Network Simulator Version 3 (ns-3). Assim, este trabalho complementa a literatura atual ao demonstrar o uso da ferramenta REM como plataforma de análise de cobertura para obtenção de informações sobre o desempenho da rede, bem como para obtenção de representação gráfica de métricas do sistema, a fim de alcançar melhores conclusões sobre os cenários estudados.…”