Coordinated Dynamic Spectrum Management of LTE-U and Wi-Fi Networks

This paper investigates the co-existence of Wi-Fi and LTE in emerging unlicensed frequency bands which are intended to accommodate multiple radio access technologies. Wi-Fi and LTE are the two most prominent access technologies being deployed today, motivating further study of the inter-system interference arising in such shared spectrum scenarios as well as possible techniques for enabling improved co-existence. An analytical model for evaluating the baseline performance of co-existing Wi-Fi and LTE is developed and used to obtain baseline performance measures. The results show that both Wi-Fi and LTE networks cause significant interference to each other and that the degradation is dependent on a number of factors such as power levels and physical topology. The model-based results are partially validated via experimental evaluations using USRP based SDR platforms on the ORBIT testbed. Further, inter-network coordination with logically centralized radio resource management across Wi-Fi and LTE systems is proposed as a possible solution for improved co-existence. Numerical results are presented showing significant gains in both Wi-Fi and LTE performance with the proposed inter-network coordination approach.Comment: Accepted paper at IEEE DySPAN 201

A Survey on Wireless Security: Technical Challenges, Recent Advances and Future Trends

This paper examines the security vulnerabilities and threats imposed by the inherent open nature of wireless communications and to devise efficient defense mechanisms for improving the wireless network security. We first summarize the security requirements of wireless networks, including their authenticity, confidentiality, integrity and availability issues. Next, a comprehensive overview of security attacks encountered in wireless networks is presented in view of the network protocol architecture, where the potential security threats are discussed at each protocol layer. We also provide a survey of the existing security protocols and algorithms that are adopted in the existing wireless network standards, such as the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and the long-term evolution (LTE) systems. Then, we discuss the state-of-the-art in physical-layer security, which is an emerging technique of securing the open communications environment against eavesdropping attacks at the physical layer. We also introduce the family of various jamming attacks and their counter-measures, including the constant jammer, intermittent jammer, reactive jammer, adaptive jammer and intelligent jammer. Additionally, we discuss the integration of physical-layer security into existing authentication and cryptography mechanisms for further securing wireless networks. Finally, some technical challenges which remain unresolved at the time of writing are summarized and the future trends in wireless security are discussed.Comment: 36 pages. Accepted to Appear in Proceedings of the IEEE, 201

Optimisation centralisée de l'association dans les réseaux IEEE 802.11

In this thesis we study the problem of association in Wi-Fi networks. We propose solutions that allow a controller to optimize and manage in a centralized way the operations of association and reassociation. Association is expressed as combinatorial optimization problems. The proposed models consider interference between APs and are compliant with the DCF access method of the IEEE 802.11 standard. In the first model proposed we considered the case of a saturated network in which it is assumed that each AP permanently has frames to transmit. In this model, we have assumed that all the stations of the same AP have equivalent chances of transmission, ie the same number of accesses to the medium. The proposed objective function offers a good compromise between improving station throughput and equity. The numerical results obtained on realistic simulations have shown the effectiveness of this solution and show a significant improvement in WLAN performance compared to an association based on the value of the RSSI or compared to existing approaches. Subsequently, since the hypothesis of a saturated network all the time is not very realistic, we have proposed a solution that relies on real measurements such as station throughput requests and the error rates. Our solution seeks to balance the load between APs. Specifically, we seek to reduce the load of the most heavily loaded AP in the WLAN. To evaluate this load, we have proposed a mathematical model that allows to estimate the BTF "Busy Time Fraction" of an AP in any configuration (association scheme). This model is based on a Markov network. The model combined with the optimization problem allows to propose the best association. The evaluation of this solution by simulation has shown how accurate our BTF estimation, and has also shown its ability to balance the load between APs and satisfy the station throughput demands. To generalize this solution to the new versions of the IEEE 802.11 standard such as 802.11n/ac, we adapted the BTF estimation model to take into account the new improvements made by Wi-Fi on physical and MAC layers such as channel aggregation, frame aggregation and block acknowledgment. Thus, we have proposed a new metric that allows to express both the BTF of an AP and the frame aggregation rates of each of its stations. The numerical evaluation of this solution showed the advantage of the new metric compared to the BTF to improve the station throughputs and load balancing in the WLAN. It should be noted that, for the resolution of the combinatorial optimization problems formulated in this thesis, we used iterative local search heuristics. These heuristics are based on the same neighborhood structure, but the search procedures are different depending on the objective function of each model. This choice is justified by the effectiveness of local research in providing acceptable solutions in a reasonable time for complex combinatorial optimization problemsDans cette thèse nous étudions la problématique de l'association dans les réseaux Wi-Fi. Nous proposons des solutions qui permettent à un contrôleur d'optimiser et de gérer d'une manière centralisée les opérations d'association et de réassociation. L'association est exprimée sous forme de problèmes d'optimisations combinatoires. Les modèles proposés tiennent compte des interférences entre les APs et sont conformes avec la méthode d'accès DCF du standard IEEE 802.11. Dans le premier modèle proposé nous avons considéré le cas d'un réseau saturé dans lequel on suppose que chaque AP dispose en permanence de trames à transmettre. Dans ce modèle, nous avons supposé que toutes les stations d'un même AP ont des chances de transmission équivalentes autrement dit le même nombre d'accès au medium. La fonction objectif proposée offre un bon compromis entre l'amélioration du débit des stations et l'équité. Les résultats numériques obtenus sur des simulations réalistes ont montré l'efficacité de cette solution et présentent une amélioration significative des performances du WLAN par rapport à une association basée sur la valeur du RSSI ou par rapport aux approches existantes. Par la suite, étant donné que l'hypothèse d'un réseau tout le temps saturé n'est pas très réaliste, nous avons proposé une solution qui s'appuie sur des mesures réelles telles que les demandes de débit des stations et les taux d'erreur. Notre solution cherche à équilibrer la charge entre les APs. Plus précisément, nous cherchons à diminuer la charge de l'AP le plus chargé dans le WLAN. Pour évaluer cette charge, nous avons proposé un modèle mathématique qui permet d'estimer le BTF « Busy Time Fraction » d'un AP dans n'importe quelle configuration (schéma d'association). Ce modèle est basé sur un réseau de Markov. Le modèle associé au problème d'optimisation permet de proposer la meilleure association. L'évaluation de cette solution par simulation a montré à quel point notre estimation du BTF est précise, et a aussi montré sa capacité à équilibrer la charge entre les APs et à satisfaire la demande en débit des stations. Pour généraliser cette solution aux nouvelles versions du standard IEEE 802.11 comme 802.11n/ac, nous avons adapté le modèle d'estimation du BTF pour qu'il tienne compte des nouvelles améliorations apportées par les couches physiques et MAC du Wi-Fi telles que l'agrégation des canaux, l'agrégation des trames et le bloc d'acquittement. Ainsi, nous avons proposé une nouvelle métrique qui permet d'exprimer à la fois le BTF d'un AP et les taux d'agrégation de trames de chacune de ces stations. L'évaluation numérique de cette solution a montré l'avantage de la nouvelle métrique par rapport au BTF pour améliorer le débit des stations et l'équilibrage de charge dans le WLAN. Il est à noter que, pour la résolution des problèmes d'optimisation combinatoire formulés dans cette thèse, nous avons utilisé des heuristiques de recherche locale itérative. Ces heuristiques sont basées sur une même structure de voisinage, mais les procédures de recherches sont différentes selon la fonction objectif de chaque modèle. Ce choix est justifié par l'efficacité de la recherche locale à fournir des solutions acceptables dans un temps raisonnable pour des problèmes d'optimisation combinatoire complexe

セルラーネットワークにおける無線LANオフロードのためのネットワーク選択方式に関する研究

早大学位記番号:新7456早稲田大

Tiheiden Wi-Fi verkkojen optimointi Markov-ketjumallien ja simuloidun jäähdytyksen avulla

Currently, the demand for wireless communication capacity is rising rapidly due to challenging applications such as video streaming and the emerging Internet of things. In meeting these ambitious requirements, the most important factor is predicted to be network densification, which refers to increasing the geographical density of simultaneously communicating devices. A natural choice for implementing dense networks is the wireless local area network technology Wi-Fi, characterized by being cheap and easy to deploy. Network density aggravates the harmful effects of interference and causes scarcity of free transmission bandwidth. To counter this, dense networks need radio resource management algorithms. This thesis presents a Wi-Fi radio resource management algorithm, which jointly optimizes access point channels, user association and transmission power. It estimates future throughput using a continuous time Markov chain based model, and finds solutions maximizing this estimate via a discrete search metaheuristic called simulated annealing. The algorithm is validated through a wide range of simulations where for instance network density is varied. The algorithm is found to be highly versatile, yielding good performance in all scenarios. Moreover, the general design approach places few restrictions on further algorithm improvement and extension. Markov chain modeling, although accurate in an idealized setting, turns out to be inaccurate with real-world Wi-Fi, with a simpler model offering similar accuracy but lighter computational load.Nykyisin vaatimukset langattoman tiedonsiirron kapasiteetille ovat voimakkaassa kasvussa johtuen haastavista sovelluksista kuten videon suoratoistosta ja tulossa olevasta esineiden Internetistä. Näiden vaatimusten täyttämiseksi tärkein keino on langattomien tiedonsiirtoverkkojen tihentäminen, mikä tarkoittaa yht’aikaa samalla maantieteellisellä alueella kommunikoivien laitteiden määrän kasvattamista. Luonnollinen valinta tiheiden verkkojen toteuttamiseen on langattomien lähiverkkojen teknologia Wi-Fi, jonka etuja ovat edullisuus ja asennuksen helppous. Langattoman verkon tiheys lisää haitallista interferenssiä ja aikaansaa pulaa vapaista lähetystaajuuksista. Näiden ongelmien ratkaisemiseksi tarvitaan radioresurssien hallinta-algoritmeja. Tässä työssä suunnitellaan Wi-Fiä varten radioresurssien hallinta-algoritmi, joka optimoi samanaikaisesti tukiasemien kanavia, käyttäjien allokaatiota tukiasemille sekä lähetystehoja. Se estimoi tulevia tiedonsiirtonopeuksia jatkuvan ajan Markov-ketjuihin pohjautuvan mallin avulla ja löytää tämän estimaatin maksimoivia ratkaisuja hyödyntämällä diskreettiä hakumenetelmää nimeltä simuloitu jäähdytys. Algoritmi validoidaan käyttäen monipuolista joukkoa simulaatioita, jossa vaihtelee esimerkiksi verkon tiheys. Algoritmi osoittautuu erittäin monipuoliseksi, sillä sen suorituskyky on hyvä kaikissa simulaatioskenaarioissa. Käytetyn lähestymistavan etuna on myös se, että se asettaa varsin vähän rajoituksia algoritmin jatkokehitykselle. Markov-ketjumallit osoittautuvat todellisen Wi-Fin tapauksessa epätarkoiksi, vaikka ne idealisoidussa ympäristössä ovatkin tarkkoja. Käy ilmi, että yksinkertaisemmalla mallilla saadaan vastaava tarkkuus, mutta laskentatehoa tarvitaan vähemmän

Energy-efficient vertical handover parameters, classification and solutions over wireless heterogeneous networks: a comprehensive survey

In the last few decades, the popularity of wireless networks has been growing dramatically for both home and business networking. Nowadays, smart mobile devices equipped with various wireless networking interfaces are used to access the Internet, communicate, socialize and handle short or long-term businesses. As these devices rely on their limited batteries, energy-efficiency has become one of the major issues in both academia and industry. Due to terminal mobility, the variety of radio access technologies and the necessity of connecting to the Internet anytime and anywhere, energy-efficient handover process within the wireless heterogeneous networks has sparked remarkable attention in recent years. In this context, this paper first addresses the impact of specific information (local, network-assisted, QoS-related, user preferences, etc.) received remotely or locally on the energy efficiency as well as the impact of vertical handover phases, and methods. It presents energy-centric state-of-the-art vertical handover approaches and their impact on energy efficiency. The paper also discusses the recommendations on possible energy gains at different stages of the vertical handover process

Energy-efficient vertical handover parameters, classification and solutions over wireless heterogeneous networks: a comprehensive survey

In the last few decades, the popularity of wireless networks has been growing dramatically for both home and business networking. Nowadays, smart mobile devices equipped with various wireless networking interfaces are used to access the Internet, communicate, socialize and handle short or long-term businesses. As these devices rely on their limited batteries, energy-efficiency has become one of the major issues in both academia and industry. Due to terminal mobility, the variety of radio access technologies and the necessity of connecting to the Internet anytime and anywhere, energy-efficient handover process within the wireless heterogeneous networks has sparked remarkable attention in recent years. In this context, this paper first addresses the impact of specific information (local, network-assisted, QoS-related, user preferences, etc.) received remotely or locally on the energy efficiency as well as the impact of vertical handover phases, and methods. It presents energy-centric state-of-the-art vertical handover approaches and their impact on energy efficiency. The paper also discusses the recommendations on possible energy gains at different stages of the vertical handover process