Practical design of optimal wireless metropolitan area networks: model and algorithms for OFDMA networks

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.This thesis contributes to the study of the planning and optimisation of wireless metropolitan area networks, in particular to the access network design of OFDMAbased systems, where different parameters like base station position, antenna tilt and azimuth need to be configured during the early stages of the network life. A practical view for the solution of this problem is presented by means of the development of a novel design framework and the use of multicriteria optimisation. A further consideration of relaying and cooperative communications in the context of the design of this kind of networks is done, an area little researched. With the emergence of new technologies and services, it is very important to accurately identify the factors that affect the design of the wireless access network and define how to take them into account to achieve optimally performing and cost-efficient networks. The new features and flexibility of OFDMA networks seem particularly suited to the provision of different broadband services to metropolitan areas. However, until now, most existing efforts have been focused on the basic access capability networks. This thesis presents a way to deal with the trade-offs generated during the OFDMA access network design, and presents a service-oriented optimization framework that offers a new perspective for this process with consideration of the technical and economic factors. The introduction of relay stations in wireless metropolitan area networks will bring numerous advantages such as coverage extension and capacity enhancement due to the deployment of new cells and the reduction of distance between transmitter and receiver. However, the network designers will also face new challenges with the use of relay stations, since they involve a new source of interference and a complicated air interface; and this need to be carefully evaluated during the network design process. Contrary to the well known procedure of cellular network design over regular or hexagonal scenarios, the wireless network planning and optimization process aims to deal with the non-uniform characteristics of realistic scenarios, where the existence of hotspots, different channel characteristics for the users, or different service requirements will determine the final design of the wireless network. This thesis is structured in three main blocks covering important gaps in the existing literature in planning (efficient simulation) and optimisation. The formulation and ideas proposed in the former case can still be evaluated over regular scenarios, for the sake of simplicity, while the study of latter case needs to be done over specific scenarios that will be described when appropriate. Nevertheless, comments and conclusions are extrapolated to more general cases throughout this work. After an introduction and a description of the related work, this thesis first focuses on the study of models and algorithms for classical point-to-multipoint networks on Chapter 3, where the optimisation framework is proposed. Based on the framework, this work: - Identifies the technology-specific physical factors that affect most importantly the network system level simulation, planning and optimization process. - It demonstrates how to simplify the problem and translate it into a formal optimization routine with consideration of economic factors. - It provides the network provider, a detailed and clear description of different scenarios during the design process so that the most suitable solution can be found. Existing works on this area do not provide such a comprehensive framework. In Chapter 4: - The impact of the relay configuration on the network planning process is analysed. - A new simple and flexible scheme to integrate multihop communications in the Mobile WiMAX frame structure is proposed and evaluated. - Efficient capacity calculations that allow intensive system level simulations in a multihop environment are introduced. In Chapter 5: - An analysis of the optimisation procedure with the addition of relay stations and the derived higher complexity of the process is done. - A frequency plan procedure not found in the existing literature is proposed, which combines it with the use of the necessary frame fragmentation of in-band relay communications and cooperative procedures. - A novel joint two-step process for network planning and optimisation is proposed. Finally, conclusions and open issues are exposed

Traffic Sensitive and Traffic Load Aware Path Selection Algorithm For MMR WIMAX Networks

The recent developments in the broadband wireless access (BWA) communication systems have introduced several major changes to the existing systems. Legacy IEEE 802.16j is one such amendment to the existing IEEE 802.16 WiMAX family. The key modification introduced by 802.16j system is the concept of relay station (RS), which may be used to enhance the system coverage or to make system throughput optimal. The end terminals, subscriber stations (SS) are unchanged in the standard. The overall change pertinent to the system has raised many unresolved issues related to RS and multi-hop relay base station (MR-BS). The selection of path from a SS to MR-BS via a RS is also one of the issues, need to be addressed. The path selection of a SS in both uplink and downlink directions is left open in the standard. It is very significant to satisfy the traffics of stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements and to appropriately manage the resources of a cell under different circumstances. This paper proposes a path selection algorithm to achieve the aforementioned qualities in the network. The path selection metrics include traffic load of the transparent relay station and traffic sensitivity factor of the SS. An extensive simulation work discusses the performance evaluation of the proposed work using QualNet simulator

Adaptive frame structure and OFDMA resource allocation in mobile multi-hop relay networks

The objective of this thesis research is to optimize network throughput and fairness, and enhance bandwidth utilization in wireless mobile multi-hop relay (MMR) networks. To enhance bandwidth utilization, we propose an adaptive OFDMA frame structure which is used by the base station and the non-transparent relay stations. To optimize throughput and fairness, we develop an adaptive OFDMA allocation algorithm by using the proposed adaptive OFDMA frame. The effectiveness of the proposed schemes has been verified by numeric simulations. Providing ubiquitous coverage with wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs) can be costly, especially in sparsely populated areas. In this scenario, cheaper relay stations (RSs) can be used to provide coverage instead of expensive base stations (BSs). The RS extends the coverage area of traditional BSs. This sort of network is known as a wireless MMR network. This thesis focuses on MMR networks that use orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and time division duplex (TDD) as a multiple access scheme and a duplex communication technique (e.g., WiMAX). The use of OFDMA resources (e.g., OFDMA symbols and subcarriers) and how they are shared in current schemes can reduce system capacity and network throughput in certain scenarios. To increase the capacity of the MMR network, we propose a new protocol that uses an adaptive OFDMA frame structure for BSs and RSs. We also propose adaptive OFDMA resource allocation for subscriber stations (SSs) within a BS or RS. We derive the maximum OFDMA resources that RSs can be assigned and synchronize access zones and relay zones between a superior station and its subordinate RSs. This is bounded by three properties defined in this thesis: a data relay property, a maximum balance property, and a relay zone limitation property. Finally, we propose max-min and proportional fairness schemes that use the proposed adaptive frame structure. The proposed scheme is the first approach that incorporates the adaptive technique for wireless MMR networks. We evaluate our scheme using simulations and numerical analysis. Results show that our technique improves resource allocation in wireless MMR networks. Further, in asymmetric distributions of SSs between access zones and relay zones, the proposed OFDMA allocation scheme performs two times better than the non-adaptive allocation scheme in terms of average max-min fairness and 70% better in terms of average throughput.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Dr. John A. Copeland; Committee Member: Dr. George F. Riley; Committee Member: Dr. Henry L. Owen; Committee Member: Dr. Mary Ann Ingram; Committee Member: Dr. Patrick Trayno

Qualitative Investigation of the Performance of Real-Time Application of IEEE 802.16e standard WiMAX Relay Networks

The ability of an application to adapt its behavior to changing network conditions depends on the available bandwidth, throughput, delay and packet loss in a network path. These are of major importance in congestion control, streaming applications, quality of service verification, relay selection and many other areas in WiMAX relay stations. Mobile WiMAX, which is based on the IEEE 802.16e standard, provides support for and enables full mobility to users. In an effort to optimize and enhance the overall network throughput, this paper will propose a mobile relay framework. WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16e standard, and can support various types of handovers, while allowing for full mobility from the user endpoint. Different methodologies were used to compare different aspects of WiMAX relay stations including throughput, delay, SNR and network load. OPNET modular was used to develop and measure these set of network performance metrics. To accurately measure and evaluate the aforementioned network parameters we employed techniques that were able to process large amounts of data, this aided in provision of much more informed recommendations as to the type of relay station modes that should be installed engender enhanced, improved and optimal Quality of Service (QoS) within the network perimeter. This paper measured the overall network throughput, delay, SNR and network load of relay networks comprising mainly of multimedia applications. Keywords: WiMAX, QoS, Relay Station, Simulation, Topology, Throughput, Delay, Packet Los