Methods for using characteristic channel information at link and network simulations

FOI has on behalf of FMV investigated methods to include different types of channel models in network simulations. The aim has been to capture the channel dynamics that can be expected in tactical mobile scenarios and to include these effects in network simulations without increasing the simulation complexity too much. The methods and simplifications used to accomplish this is firstly one called a performance surface. Three different ways to generate such a performance surface have been explored. The alternative method is to use the instantaneous channel capacity in which case no link layer simulations at all are required. This work has shown that there are useful models that can be used to obtain results that mimic real channels without giving excessively long simulation times. It opens up for study and research into more efficient network protocols. Instantaneous channel capacity is the easiest to implement of the surveyed methods The method of using a performance surface gives better description of real systems, but the leads to difficulties and, above all, it is labor intensive to obtain these performance surfaces. Two implementations have been made to test the link models in OPNET for a mobile scenario. The main conclusion of the test runs in OPNET is that as the network topology gets a more dynamic and reality-like behavior with the new methods the network layer functions, such as routing, need to work much more. It demonstrates the need and potential for improvement of network protocols in dynamic situations.