923 research outputs found
Queueing Networks for Vertical Handover
PhDIt is widely expected that next-generation wireless communication systems will be
heterogeneous, integrating a wide variety of wireless access networks. Of particular
interest recently is a mix of cellular networks (GSM/GPRS and WCDMA) and
wireless local area networks (WLANs) to provide complementary features in terms
of coverage, capacity and mobility support. If cellular/ WLAN interworking is to be
the basis for a heterogeneous network then the analysis of complex handover traffic
rates in the system (especially vertical handover) is one of the most essential issues to
be considered.
This thesis describes the application of queueing-network theory to the modelling of
this heterogeneous wireless overlay system. A network of queues (or queueing
network) is a powerful mathematical tool in the performance evaluation of many
large-scale engineering systems. It has been used in the modelling of hierarchically
structured cellular wireless networks with much success, including queueing
network modelling in the study of cellular/ WLAN interworking systems. In the
process of queueing network modelling, obtaining the network topology of a system
is usually the first step in the construction of a good model, but this topology
analysis has never before been used in the handover traffic study in heterogeneous
overlay wireless networks. In this thesis, a new topology scheme to facilitate the
analysis of handover traffic is proposed.
The structural similarity between hierarchical cellular structure and heterogeneous
wireless overlay networks is also compared. By replacing the microcells with
WLANs in a hierarchical structure, the interworking system is modelled as an open
network of Erlang loss systems and with the new topology, the performance
measures of blocking probabilities and dropping probabilities can be determined.
Both homogeneous and non-homogeneous traffic have been considered, circuit
switched and packet-switched. Example scenarios have been used to validate the
models, the numerical results showing clear agreement with the known validation
scenarios
Monotonicity and error bounds for networks of Erlang loss queues
Networks of Erlang loss queues naturally arise when modelling finite communication systems without delays, among which, most notably are (i) classical circuit switch telephone networks (loss networks) and (ii) present-day wireless mobile networks. Performance measures of interest such as loss probabilities or throughputs can be obtained from the steady state distribution. However, while this steady state distribution has a closed product form expression in the first case (loss networks), it does not have one in the second case due to blocked (and lost) handovers. Product form approximations are therefore suggested. These approximations are obtained by a combined modification of both the state space (by a hypercubic expansion) and the transition rates (by extra redial rates). It will be shown that these product form approximations lead to (1) upper bounds for loss probabilities and \ud
(2) analytic error bounds for the accuracy of the approximation for various performance measures.\ud
The proofs of these results rely upon both monotonicity results and an analytic error bound method as based on Markov reward theory. This combination and its technicalities are of interest by themselves. The technical conditions are worked out and verified for two specific applications:\ud
(1)• pure loss networks as under (2)• GSM networks with fixed channel allocation as under.\ud
The results are of practical interest for computational simplifications and, particularly, to guarantee that blocking probabilities do not exceed a given threshold such as for network dimensioning
A PC-based data acquisition system for sub-atomic physics measurements
Modern particle physics measurements are heavily dependent upon automated data acquisition systems (DAQ) to collect and process experiment-generated information. One research group from the University of Saskatchewan utilizes a DAQ known as the Lucid data acquisition and analysis system. This thesis examines the project undertaken to upgrade the hardware and software components of Lucid. To establish the effectiveness of the system upgrades, several performance metrics were obtained including the system's dead time and input/output bandwidth.Hardware upgrades to Lucid consisted of replacing its aging digitization equipment with modern, faster-converting Versa-Module Eurobus (VME) technology and replacing the instrumentation processing platform with common, PC hardware. The new processor platform is coupled to the instrumentation modules via a fiber-optic bridging-device, the sis1100/3100 from Struck Innovative Systems.The software systems of Lucid were also modified to follow suit with the new hardware. Originally constructed to utilize a proprietary real-time operating system, the data acquisition application was ported to run under the freely available Real-Time Executive for Multiprocessor Systems (RTEMS). The device driver software provided with sis1100/3100 interface also had to be ported for use under the RTEMS-based system. Performance measurements of the upgraded DAQ indicate that the dead time has been reduced from being on the order of milliseconds to being on the order of several tens of microseconds. This increased capability means that Lucid's users may acquire significantly more data in a shorter period of time, thereby decreasing both the statistical uncertainties and data collection duration associated with a given experiment
Modeling the Use of an Airborne Platform for Cellular Communications Following Disruptions
In the wake of a disaster, infrastructure can be severely damaged, hampering telecommunications. An Airborne Communications Network (ACN) allows for rapid and accurate information exchange that is essential for the disaster response period. Access to information for survivors is the start of returning to self-sufficiency, regaining dignity, and maintaining hope. Real-world testing has proven that such a system can be built, leading to possible future expansion of features and functionality of an emergency communications system.
Currently, there are no airborne civilian communications systems designed to meet the demands of the public following a natural disaster. A system allowing even a limited amount of communications post-disaster is a great improvement on the current situation, where telecommunications are frequently not available. It is technically feasible to use an airborne, wireless, cellular system quickly deployable to disaster areas and configured to restore some of the functions of damaged terrestrial telecommunications networks.
The system requirements were presented, leading to the next stage of the planned research, where a range of possible solutions were examined. The best solution was selected based on the earlier, predefined criteria. The system was modeled, and a test ii system built. The system was tested and redesigned when necessary, to meet the requirements.
The research has shown how the combination of technology, especially the recent miniaturizations and move to open source software for cellular network components can allow sophisticated cellular networks to be implemented. The ACN system proposed could enable connectivity and reduce the communications problems that were experienced following Hurricane Sandy and Katrina. Experience with both natural and man-made disasters highlights the fact that communications are useful only to the extent that they are accessible and useable by the population
Modern web-programming language concurrency
This Masters Thesis compares Elixir, Go and JavaScript (Node.js) as programming language candi- dates for writing concurrent RESTful webservice backends. First we describe each of the languages. Next we compare the functional concurrency characteristics of the languages to each other. Finally we do scalability testing for each of the languages. Scalability testing is done using the Locust.io framework. For testing purposes we introduce for simple REST-api implementations for each of the languages. Result from the tests was that JavaScript performed the worst of the languages and Go was the most verbose language to program with
Modelling and Optimisation of GSM and UMTS Radio Access Networks
The size and complexity of mobile communication networks have increased in the last years making network management a very complicated task. GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) systems are in a mature state now. Thus, non-optimal performance does not come from typical network start-up problems, but, more likely, from the mismatching between traffic, network or propagation models used for network planning, and their real counterparts. Such differences cause network congestion problems both in signalling and data channels. With the aim of maximising the financial benefits on their mature networks, operators do not solve anymore congestion problems by adding new radio resources, as they usually did. Alternatively, two main strategies can be adopted, a) a better assignment of radio resources through a re-planning approach, and/or b) the automatic configuration (optimisation, in a wide sense) of network parameters. Both techniques aim to adapt the network to the actual traffic and propagation conditions. Moreover, a new heterogenous scenario, where several services and Radio Access Technologies (RATs) coexist in the same area, is now common, causing new unbalanced traffic scenarios and congestion problems. In this thesis, several optimisation and modelling methods are proposed to solve congestion problems in data and signalling channels for single- and multi-RAT scenarios
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