How to Implement Network Channel Aggregation in ns3

To implement the network channel aggregation in ns3, we have to increase the data throughput and the overall performance of the network by combining several communication channels. Through carrier aggregation, we can use this method in LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) networks. Below is a detailed implementation process on how to set up a network simulation with channel aggregation in ns3.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Step 1: Install ns3

Make sure that if you have ns3 installed on your computer

Step 2: Set Up the Simulation Environment

Create a new simulation script or modify an existing one. This script will define the network topology, nodes, and communication channels.

Step 3: Define Network Topology

Create nodes and define the network topology, focusing on the eNodeBs and UEs. Below we provide the sample of setting up an LTE network with channel aggregation.

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/lte-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

#include “ns3/flow-monitor-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

NS_LOG_COMPONENT_DEFINE (“NetworkChannelAggregation”);

int main (int argc, char *argv[])

{

// Enable logging

LogComponentEnable (“NetworkChannelAggregation”, LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

// Create nodes

NodeContainer ueNodes;

ueNodes.Create (20); // Example with 20 user equipment nodes

NodeContainer enbNodes;

enbNodes.Create (3); // Example with 3 eNodeB nodes (base stations)

// Set up LTE and EPC (Evolved Packet Core)

Ptr<LteHelper> lteHelper = CreateObject<LteHelper> ();

Ptr<PointToPointEpcHelper> epcHelper = CreateObject<PointToPointEpcHelper> ();

lteHelper->SetEpcHelper (epcHelper);

// Configure carrier aggregation

lteHelper->SetAttribute (“UseCa”, BooleanValue (true));

lteHelper->SetEnbAntennaModelType (“ns3::IsotropicAntennaModel”);

lteHelper->SetEnbAntennaModelAttribute (“Gain”, DoubleValue (0));

// Set up primary and secondary carriers

std::vector<BandInfo> bandInfoList;

BandInfo primaryBand;

primaryBand.bandId = 1;

primaryBand.dlFreq = 2110e6; // 2.110 GHz

primaryBand.ulFreq = 1920e6; // 1.920 GHz

primaryBand.bandwidth = 20e6; // 20 MHz

bandInfoList.push_back(primaryBand);

BandInfo secondaryBand;

secondaryBand.bandId = 2;

secondaryBand.dlFreq = 2620e6; // 2.620 GHz

secondaryBand.ulFreq = 2500e6; // 2.500 GHz

secondaryBand.bandwidth = 20e6; // 20 MHz

bandInfoList.push_back(secondaryBand);

lteHelper->SetAttribute (“BandInfoList”, BandInfoListValue(bandInfoList));

// Install LTE Devices to the nodes

NetDeviceContainer enbLteDevs = lteHelper->InstallEnbDevice (enbNodes);

NetDeviceContainer ueLteDevs = lteHelper->InstallUeDevice (ueNodes);

// Install the IP stack on the UEs

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install (ueNodes);

// Assign IP addresses to UEs

Ipv4InterfaceContainer ueIpIface;

ueIpIface = epcHelper->AssignUeIpv4Address (NetDeviceContainer (ueLteDevs));

// Attach UEs to the eNodeBs

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ueNodes.GetN (); i++)

{

lteHelper->Attach (ueLteDevs.Get (i), enbLteDevs.Get (i % enbNodes.GetN ()));

}

// Set mobility model

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel (“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install (enbNodes);

mobility.SetPositionAllocator (“ns3::RandomBoxPositionAllocator”,

“X”, StringValue (“ns3::UniformRandomVariable[Min=0.0|Max=500.0]”),

“Y”, StringValue (“ns3::UniformRandomVariable[Min=0.0|Max=500.0]”),

“Z”, StringValue (“ns3::UniformRandomVariable[Min=0.0|Max=1.5]”));

 

mobility.SetMobilityModel (“ns3::RandomWaypointMobilityModel”,

“Speed”, StringValue (“ns3::UniformRandomVariable[Min=1.0|Max=20.0]”),

“Pause”, StringValue (“ns3::ConstantRandomVariable[Constant=2.0]”),

“PositionAllocator”, StringValue (“ns3::RandomBoxPositionAllocator”));

mobility.Install (ueNodes);

// Install and start applications on UEs and remote host

uint16_t dlPort = 1234;

ApplicationContainer clientApps;

ApplicationContainer serverApps;

UdpClientHelper dlClient (ueIpIface.GetAddress (0), dlPort);

dlClient.SetAttribute (“Interval”, TimeValue (MilliSeconds (10)));

dlClient.SetAttribute (“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue (1000000));

clientApps.Add (dlClient.Install (ueNodes.Get (0)));

PacketSinkHelper dlPacketSinkHelper (“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress (Ipv4Address::GetAny (), dlPort));

serverApps.Add (dlPacketSinkHelper.Install (ueNodes.Get (0)));

serverApps.Start (Seconds (0.01));

clientApps.Start (Seconds (0.01));

// Set up FlowMonitor

FlowMonitorHelper flowmon;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowmon.InstallAll ();

// Set up the simulation

Simulator::Stop (Seconds (10.0));

Simulator::Run ();

// Print statistics

monitor->CheckForLostPackets ();

Ptr<Ipv4FlowClassifier> classifier = DynamicCast<Ipv4FlowClassifier> (flowmon.GetClassifier ());

std::map<FlowId, FlowMonitor::FlowStats> stats = monitor->GetFlowStats ();

for (std::map<FlowId, FlowMonitor::FlowStats>::const_iterator i = stats.begin (); i != stats.end (); ++i)

{

Ipv4FlowClassifier::FiveTuple t = classifier->FindFlow (i->first);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (“Flow ” << i->first << ” (” << t.sourceAddress << ” -> ” << t.destinationAddress << “)”);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (”  Tx Packets: ” << i->second.txPackets);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (”  Tx Bytes:   ” << i->second.txBytes);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (”  Rx Packets: ” << i->second.rxPackets);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (”  Rx Bytes:   ” << i->second.rxBytes);

NS_LOG_UNCOND (”  Throughput: ” << i->second.rxBytes * 8.0 / (i->second.timeLastRxPacket.GetSeconds () – i->second.timeFirstTxPacket.GetSeconds ()) / 1024 / 1024  << ” Mbps”);

}

// Clean up

Simulator::Destroy ();

return 0;

}

Step 4: Configure Carrier Aggregation

In the above example, we enable the carrier aggregation with the help of lteHelper->SetAttribute (“UseCa”, BooleanValue (true));. First, we set up the BandInfo by defining the primary and secondary carriers and then, assigning them to the BandInfoList.

Step 5: Set Up Mobility Models

In the example, to simulate the movement in UEs we use the RandomWayPointMobilityModel. We can adjust the mobility model and parameters (speed, pause, position) as needed.

Step 6: Set Up Traffic Generation

In the example, we are setting up the UDP client and server application because it can easily stimulate the data traffic. By doing this, the client can sends the packets to the server at regular intervals.

Step 7: Monitor and Analyze Performance

Use the FlowMonitor module to collect and analyze performance metrics such as throughput, packet loss, and delay. This information is printed out at the end of the simulation.

Step 8: Run the Simulation

Compile and run your simulation script to see the effect of channel aggregation on network performance. The output will include statistics such as the number of packets transmitted and received, throughput, and any packet loss.

Conclusively, through this script we can entirely understand how the channel aggregation works and helps the network in the ns3 tool. If you need, we offer any added details about the channel aggregation or ns3 tool or the network.

Implementation of Network Channel Aggregation in ns3tool will be done by our experts if you face hardships after going through the above steeps then reach out for your help.