Smart Phone Service Quality Meter

2021 COE Engineering Design Project (AA07)

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Faculty Lab Coordinator

Alagan Anpalagan

Topic Category

Distributed Systems and Networking

Preamble

Mobile communication systems are based on many different physical and access technologies. For example, 4G LTE smart phones are based on OFDM technology while some 3G phones on WCDMA. Wireless systems operate within a limited radio spectrum. Providing maximum throughput and user experience (quality of service – QoS) are the goals of service providers. It would be very useful from network engineering point of view to visualize the state of the wireless network graphically. In real scenario, users are mobile and radio environment is unpredictable. As a result, the deliverable data rates and QoS are constantly changing. In this capstone design project, students will design and develop a graphical user interface with associated (flexible) physical, link and network modules that displays in real-time the data rates and related QoS metrics that can be supported in a simulated wireless network. Students must also develop an APPS (based on Android or iPhone) to calculate and display the various performance indicators on the smart phone type devices.

Objective

-To design, develop and implement a simulated wireless network prototype with necessary GUI interface that displays available real-time data rates of a mobile radio phone in different locations. The underlying wireless network could be based on one of the following: WCDMA, GSM, WiMAX, LTE or LTE-A. -To characterize the wireless system under consideration by computing quality of service (QoS) and other related performance metrics and displaying them under randomly varying operating conditions. -To develop an APPS (based on Android or iPhone) to display the various performance indicators on the smartphone type devices. -To analyze the impact and sensitivity in performance with various system-level (both physical, link and network layer) parameters. -To optimize the system design and deployment based on the knowledge gained in the sensitivity analysis above. -To provide design guidelines for wireless system and network engineering.

Partial Specifications

- Study how to compute various system level performance metrics in wireless communication systems.
- Develop a simulator for throughput analysis taking into account mobility and radio channel behavior. System level simulation with modular designs using MATLAB/Simulink; C/C++/Java; Python
- Develop a graphical user interface (GUI) that does: (i) show wireless network and a user in motion, (ii) show the real-time rates and average rate statistics and other QoS metrics as required.
- Learn how to develop APPS for smartphones.
- Analyze the results obtained from scenario analysis and visual observance.
- Power usage can also be calculated and displayed if energy model is incorporated
- Perform sensitivity analysis and optimize the parameters.

Suggested Approach

-Investigate and study different wireless systems and choose one as a candidate system for this project
-Study technical materials (from text books, research papers, industry standards and service providers specs etc.) on multiple access technologies, physical/link layer parameters, wireless channels, wireless network capacity, wireless services, mobility and energy models.
-Use a simplified network of seven hexagonal cells for simulation and validation, with stand-still users first and then mobile users, without fading first etc.
-Consider forward/reverse links with four service classes (voice, low/high rate data and video).
-Use modular approach in design/test and then integrate.
-Design/develop the GUI with as many user-selectable inputs such as mobile speed, admitted users of different classes, fast-fading parameter and desired SNR.
- Modular APPS development.

Group Responsibilities

Study the literature on wireless communication systems, design/develop the technical specifications required for the system prototype under consideration, implement and test of the entire system with the above objectives. Follow the project management plan carefully and thoroughly. Responsible for the demo and project report.

Student A Responsibilities

To design, develop and implement a simulated wireless network prototype with necessary GUI interface, and to provide performance and service quality indicators.

Student B Responsibilities

To design, develop and implement a simulated wireless network prototype with necessary GUI interface, and to provide performance and service quality indicators.

Student C Responsibilities

To design, develop and implement a simulated wireless network prototype with necessary GUI interface, and to provide performance and service quality indicators.

Student D Responsibilities

To design, develop and implement a simulated wireless network prototype with necessary GUI interface, and to provide performance and service quality indicators.

Course Co-requisites

To ALL EDP Students

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, in the event University is not open for in-class/in-lab activities during the Winter term, your EDP topic specifications, requirements, implementations, and assessment methods will be adjusted by your FLCs at their discretion.