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OPNET
Technologies OPNET is a
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1. Packet and Cell TDM Switching Assignments We investigate efficient algorithms for TDM switching. The first algorithm applies for genaral data switching and achieves optimum transmission time with a much lower number of switching configurations than a previously proposed algorithm, while still having similar time requirements. The second algorithm applies to the special case of cell switching and is very much faster than the previously proposed algorithm at the cost of a slight increase in the transmission time needed. 2. Integrated MAC and Routing Protocols for Scalable MANETs This project concerns the design of efficient protocols for the organization and management of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs).The investigated protocols focus on the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and the Network (routing) layer. The distinctive guiding principles in our approach is the integration of the protocols on the two levels and the scalability of the overall architecture. The first objective, integration, allows tighter coupling of the protocols in the two levels, so that appropriate information can be fed back from one to the other with the aim of improving the overall performance of the MANET. Traditional approaches rely on information that is provided only in one direction (i.e., weight assignments on links and/or nodes for routing purposes are obtained from the measurements on the lower level).In addition, traditional approaches built network layer protocols on top of previously developed MAC layer protocols that were not explicitly designed with mobility in mind.In contrast, the proposed architecture allows information, such as frequency and bandwidth, that is gathered during the discovery of a route in a mobile environment, to be passed down to the MAC layer for more efficient operation of its protocols. The second objective, scalability, allows the application of the proposed architecture to very large MANETs. Scalability is a crucial problem that has not been adequately solved by any existing approach so far. Scalability is identified as the major issue in the design of the network layer protocol and can only be obtained by some means of a hierarchical architecture that must be proactively updated in a distributed manner. The proposed architecture is dynamically reconfigurable and is supported by fast distributed algorithms. The routing protocol uses fast, scalable algorithms and takes also quality--of--service (QoS) requirements into account. The management protocol focuses on the mobile context issues of hierarchical cluster reconfiguration and of time scheduling for power conservation. This scheduling decision needs global information that is naturally available at the network layer,and more importantly, does not invalidate scheduling decisions for power conservation taken at the MAC layer. Finally, the supporting MAC layer protocol uses a multiple access reservation scheme that is designed with the routing and power conservation goals in mind. 5. Courses Using OPNET ECE 422: Introduction to Data Communications Networks. This is the undergraduate level course for computer networks. OPNET is used as the main tool to expose the students to the analysis and simulation of computer networks. ECE 553: Data Communications Networks. This is a graduate level course on computer networks. OPNET is used for individual research projects. |
