OMNeT++-Based Cross-Layer Simulator for Content Transmission over Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Flexbility and deployment simplicity are among the numerous advantages of wireless links when compared to standard wired communications. However, challenges do remain high for wireless communications, in particular due to the wireless medium inherent unreliability, and to the desired flexibility, which entails complex protocol procedures. In that context simulation is an important tool to understand and design the protocols that manage the wireless networks. This paper introduces a new simulation framework based on the OMNeT++ simulator whose goal is to enable the study of data and multimedia content transmission over hybrid wired/wireless ad hoc networks, as well as the design of innovative radio access schemes. To achieve this goal, the complete protocol stack from the application to the physical layer is simulated, and the real bits and bytes of the messages transferred on the radio channel are exchanged. To ensure that this framework is reusable and extensible in future studies and projects, a modular software and protocol architecture has been defined. Although still in progress, our work has already provided some valuable results concerning cross layer HARQ/MAC protocol performance and video transmission over the wireless channel, as illustrated by results examples.

CORASMA Program on Cognitive Radio for Tactical Networks: High Fidelity Simulator and First Results on Dynamic Frequency Allocation

“…Here, HiFi means that the detail level of implementation is enough to replicate behavior of real systems for these layers. HiFi simulation is a challenging topic, which is getting increasing interest in the communication community as PHY and MAC layers are becoming more and more sophisticated [1], [2].…”

Cross-layer Stack Design Framework in OMNeT++

“…There are also some studies that promote the implementation of such approaches in OM-NeT++. Massin et al [6] propose a cross-layer design for content transmission. They use a cross-layer architecture with a management layer called XLI.…”