Simulation model architectures for channel allocation in cellular networks

• Main Author: Papazoglou, Panayotis M.
• Other Authors: Papademetriou, Rallis
• Published: University of Portsmouth 2010
• Subjects: 621.382
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.515537

Channel allocation is a fundamental issue in cellular networks because it determines how the available bandwidth will be managed. The limited channel availability and the increasing demands for advanced services. such as real time video, gave to channel allocation strategies a special role; hence, cellular network adaption to current traffic conditions is the most challenging issue. In the literature, a great number of channel allocation strategies have been proposed for supporting voice services as well as multimedia services. This study shows that the performance of the existing approaches regarding the channel allocation for voice and multimedia services can be significantly improved by proposing new criteria for channel allocation and by introducing new modelling methodologies especially for large scale environments. Additionally, an ant colony optimization algorithm for channel allocation in large scale environments is introduced for the first time in literature. Simulation solutions, on the other hand, offer the opportunity to develop and evaluate channel allocation schemes, network structures etc, towards a desired cellular network. A main goal of a simulation model is the reflection of the network event activities based on the channel allocation strategies. In this study, the cellular network is modelled using a novel methodology based on multi-agent technology. This methodology constitutes a new simulation approach and a new network behaviour concept regarding channel allocation. Moreover, a novel event scheduling mechanism is proposed for improved channel allocation and for reflecting the cellular network behaviour. In the literature, an event scheduler focused on channel allocation and multi-agent based modelling for network services do not exist. Finally, a new simulation system where the multi-agent technology and the event scheduling mechanism for channel allocation are integrated is analysed and proposed. The results clearly show that the proposed channel allocation strategies produce improved performance in large scale cellular networks regarding the voice and multimedia services. The results also show that the performance of the cellular network is significantly improved when the new modelling methodology based on multi-agent technology is applied in combination with the proposed event scheduling mechanism focused on channel allocation.