CCRI: ENS: Collaborative Research: ns-3 Network Simulation for Next-Generation Wireless

对新兴的下一代无线网络的模拟仍然是设计、评估和创新周期的宝贵组成部分，作为对其他模式的补充，例如性能测试的试验台。该项目将重点升级使用最广泛的开源网络仿真器ns-3，以应对基于5G及更高级别网络的高效而准确的仿真性能评估的挑战。它将通过为Wi-Fi(特别是Wi-Fi 6)和蜂窝(特别是5G NR)技术的发展建立模型，并结合针对密集和异质网络使用情况的新模拟技术来实现这一点。网络模拟面临着基本的挑战，因为固有的复杂性增加，特别是在物理层，因为不断增加的带宽、MIMO(多输入、多输出)和多用户操作以及跨层(物理和多路访问)操作，这是应对网络规模和异构性所必需的。主要目标是开发模拟方法，在保持模拟运行时的效率和保持测量的网络参数(损耗、吞吐量、延迟)的准确性之间实现所需的平衡--面对日益增加的复杂性。研究计划将探索各种技术，包括有效的链接到系统的映射，不影响模拟准确性的网络状态表示的修剪，以及基于乐观模拟的并行化方法。此外，该项目计划通过增加社区推广和创建新的教育材料来提高ns-3的可用性和进一步采用，以降低新一代ns-3用户的准入门槛。由华盛顿大学主办的重新创建的ns-3联盟将促进为新手和高级用户创建培训材料，这些材料将在网上存档和分发，并在领先的网络/模拟会议上面对面分发。新的内容(教育材料和教程、研究报告和出版物)将主要通过ns-3网站https://www.nsnam.org/和两个机构实验室主页(华盛顿大学https://depts.washington.edu/funlab和佐治亚理工学院http://blough.ece.gatech.edu/research/))以及Youtube/VIEMO等其他流行的视频频道传播。此外，正在开发的代码将保存在GitLab等档案中，并通过ns-3用户和开发人员邮件列表宣布。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Simulation of emerging next-generation wireless networks continues to be an invaluable component of the design, evaluation and innovation cycle as a complement to other modes such as testbeds of performance testing. This project will focus on upgrading ns-3, the most widely used open source network simulator, to meet the challenges of efficient yet accurate simulation based performance evaluation of 5G and beyond networks. It will do this via model building for the evolutions in Wi-Fi (notably Wi-Fi 6) and cellular (notably 5G NR) technologies and incorporating new simulation techniques targeting dense and heterogeneous network use cases.Network simulation faces fundamental challenges due to inherent increases in complexity, notably at the physical layer due to increasing bandwidth, MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) and multi-user operation as well as cross-layer (physical and multiple access) operation, necessary to deal with network scale and heterogeneity. The primary objective is to develop simulation methods that achieve the desired balance between maintaining simulation run-time efficiency while preserving accuracy of measured network parameters (loss, throughput, latency) - in the face of increasing complexity. The research plan will explore a variety of techniques including efficient link-to-system mappings, pruning of network state representations that do not impact simulation accuracy, and parallelization approaches based on optimistic simulation.In addition, the project plans to improve ns-3 usability and further adoption through increased community outreach and creation of new educational material to lower barriers to entry for a new generation of ns-3 users. The recreated ns-3 Consortium hosted by the University of Washington will foster creation of training material for both novice and advanced users, to be archived and distributed online as well as in-person at leading networking/simulation conferences. New content (educational materials and tutorials, research reports and publications) will be disseminated primarily via the ns-3 website https://www.nsnam.org/ and the two institutional lab home pages (the University of Washington - https://depts.washington.edu/funlab and Georgia Tech - http://blough.ece.gatech.edu/research/) along with other popular channels such as YouTube/Viemo for video. Additionally, code under development will be preserved in archives such as Gitlab and announced via the ns-3 Users and Developers mailing lists.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.