Simulation System for the Wireless Communication of Multimedia

The goal of this project is to develop a simulation system of wireless networks capable of communicating multimedia information. The wireless networks shall cater to various models, such as: peer-to-peer and client-server communications (served by localized transmission methods), both stationary and mobile communications over a wide area (served by satellites and hybrid networking), and global communications including airborne and ship-based communications (potentially served by NASA's ACTS). We also propose to simulate real-time and continuous media oriented protocols at the transport, network, and link levels that would allow for secure and robust connections to be made rapidly and maintained for multimedia communication services. During Phase I a simulation framework using the University of California, Berkeley's Ptolemy simulator will be developed. The performance of some of the wireless communication networks will be estimated using high level (behavioral level) Ptolemy simulations for different protocols, bit rates, bit error rates (BER), interferences, numbers of wireless stations connected, distances of wireless stations, and wireless technologies. Based on the simulations, protocols and wireless technologies for multimedia communication will be specified for detailed simulation and analysis in Phase II. A wireless simulation system (WSIM) will be completed during Phase II for experimenting with many wireless networks. Anticipated Benefits: The simulation system will allow experimentation with different wireless network technologies, protocols, qualities of service, and numbers of users. Telecommunications companies will be able to use the simulator in building new wireless networks and protocols. The models will be useful in simulating large systems containing wireless networks.