# GSoC 2014: Wireless Network in the loop **URL:** \ **Category:** GNU Radio\ **Created:** [March 10, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gsoc-2014-wireless-network-in-the-loop/239677 "2014-03-10T10:59:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Detlef\_R](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Detlef\_R](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Detlef_R)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gsoc-2014-wireless-network-in-the-loop/239677/1 "2014-03-10T10:59:46Z")
Dear All, My name is Asma Afzal. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Wireless Communication ) from the University of Leeds, UK. I am interested in working on the WiNeLo GSoC project. WiNeLo is an in-the-loop simulation framework for communication networks based on the GNU Radio software radio toolkit. gr-winelo mimics the behavior of common RF frontends such as the USRP, but instead of sending the signal over the air, a central server plays the role of the wireless communication channel. Arbitrary channel models can be simulated, by passing their respective GNU Radio processing block to the server. Since this whole setup is completely transparent to GNU Radio applications, it is at any moment possible to switch between simulations and real-world tests. After watching the FOSDEM video, I believe I can make (part of) the following additions to the ongoing project 1. Implementation of various analytical channel models on the server to mimic real wireless channel. (Rayleigh, Nakagami-m, Rician, Weibull fading, Lognormal Shadowing) 2. Implementation of different transmission strategies such as CDM or interference free TDM with different digital modulation schemes. A user will be provisioned to input various controlling parameters like the frequency, rate of symbol transmission, wireless environment (indoor/outdoor), etc. With reference to these points, I wanted to ask senior members of the community regarding which tasks would be beneficial to the community immediately? I will appreciate your input to point out the exact goal. I believe that my skills are particularly well suited for this project. I did my Masters in Telecommunication and Networks from NUST, Pakistan. I studied Wireless communication and Wireless networks in detail. I am familiar with modulation schemes and wireless channel impairments like path loss, slow/fast fading, shadowing, noise and interference. My current research is based on stochastic modeling of wireless networks in presence of path loss and fading. I have recently presented a paper at Globecom 2013. The paper hasn’t come on IEEE Xplore yet but you can find an electronic copy on this link. [http://ipt.seecs.nust.edu.pk/Pubs/Asma%20Globecom%202013.pdf](http://ipt.seecs.nust.edu.pk/Pubs/Asma%20Globecom%202013.pdf) Although I don’t have prior experience with GNU Radios, but I have strong programming skills in C/C++ and Matlab. During my masters, I worked on a collaborative project with Cypress Semi-Conductor, USA. The project involved implementation of AES-128 encryption and a part of thermal management system on Programmable System on Chip (PSoC). As a result of successful implementation, I got two technical articles published (listed below). [http://www.embedded.com/design/safety-and-security/4417178/Enhancing-system-efficiency-of-embedded-encryption-applications](http://www.embedded.com/design/safety-and-security/4417178/Enhancing-system-efficiency-of-embedded-encryption-applications) [http://www.embedded.com/design/prototyping-and-development/4422955/Building-an-efficient--intelligent--and-flexible-thermal-management-system](http://www.embedded.com/design/prototyping-and-development/4422955/Building-an-efficient--intelligent--and-flexible-thermal-management-system) I am a keen learner and I have always wanted to apply my theoretical knowledge on practical systems. This is my chance to do that. It will be extremely beneficial for my understanding of wireless systems and since this project is so relevant to my research, I would like to pursue it after summer as well and contribute to the GNU Radio open source community. Thank you. Kind Regards, Asma Afzal. ---
**Author:** ![Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Asma_Afzal)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:24am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gsoc-2014-wireless-network-in-the-loop/239677/2 "2014-03-11T10:24:57Z")
Hi Asma, this sounds very interesting, especially the implementation of new channel models would be a great enhancement to the WiNeLo project (and, if implemented as standard GR blocks, to GR in general). Concerning this matter - and as an additional option - one could possibly also improve and extend the already existing gr-channelsounder OOT (see [GitHub - gbaier/gr\_channelsounder: a correlation channel sounder for GNU Radio](https://github.com/gbaier/gr_channelsounder)). Your second thought is also a great idea, but to me it sounds more like a demo application for the WiNeLo framework. I am really looking forward to see such applications running on top of WiNeLo, but I think that we should invest all the valuable development effort in the framework itself or the hardware and channel models right now. I am looking forward to read your opinion on these ideas! Nico * * * Von: discuss-gnuradio-bounces+nico.otterbach=removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid [discuss-gnuradio-bounces+nico.otterbach=removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid] im Auftrag von Asma Afzal [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid] Gesendet: Montag, 10. Mrz 2014 10:57 An: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Betreff: [Discuss-gnuradio] GSoC 2014: Wireless Network in the loop Dear All, My name is Asma Afzal. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Wireless Communication ) from the University of Leeds, UK. I am interested in working on the WiNeLo GSoC project. WiNeLo is an in-the-loop simulation framework for communication networks based on the GNU Radio software radio toolkit. gr-winelo mimics the behavior of common RF frontends such as the USRP, but instead of sending the signal over the air, a central server plays the role of the wireless communication channel. Arbitrary channel models can be simulated, by passing their respective GNU Radio processing block to the server. Since this whole setup is completely transparent to GNU Radio applications, it is at any moment possible to switch between simulations and real-world tests. After watching the FOSDEM video, I believe I can make (part of) the following additions to the ongoing project 1. Implementation of various analytical channel models on the server to mimic real wireless channel. (Rayleigh, Nakagami-m, Rician, Weibull fading, Lognormal Shadowing) 2. Implementation of different transmission strategies such as CDM or interference free TDM with different digital modulation schemes. A user will be provisioned to input various controlling parameters like the frequency, rate of symbol transmission, wireless environment (indoor/outdoor), etc. With reference to these points, I wanted to ask senior members of the community regarding which tasks would be beneficial to the community immediately? I will appreciate your input to point out the exact goal. I believe that my skills are particularly well suited for this project. I did my Masters in Telecommunication and Networks from NUST, Pakistan. I studied Wireless communication and Wireless networks in detail. I am familiar with modulation schemes and wireless channel impairments like path loss, slow/fast fading, shadowing, noise and interference. My current research is based on stochastic modeling of wireless networks in presence of path loss and fading. I have recently presented a paper at Globecom 2013. The paper hasnt come on IEEE Xplore yet but you can find an electronic copy on this link. [http://ipt.seecs.nust.edu.pk/Pubs/Asma%20Globecom%202013.pdf](http://ipt.seecs.nust.edu.pk/Pubs/Asma%20Globecom%202013.pdf) Although I dont have prior experience with GNU Radios, but I have strong programming skills in C/C++ and Matlab. During my masters, I worked on a collaborative project with Cypress Semi-Conductor, USA. The project involved implementation of AES-128 encryption and a part of thermal management system on Programmable System on Chip (PSoC). As a result of successful implementation, I got two technical articles published (listed below). [http://www.embedded.com/design/safety-and-security/4417178/Enhancing-system-efficiency-of-embedded-encryption-applications](http://www.embedded.com/design/safety-and-security/4417178/Enhancing-system-efficiency-of-embedded-encryption-applications) [http://www.embedded.com/design/prototyping-and-development/4422955/Building-an-efficient--intelligent--and-flexible-thermal-management-system](http://www.embedded.com/design/prototyping-and-development/4422955/Building-an-efficient--intelligent--and-flexible-thermal-management-system) I am a keen learner and I have always wanted to apply my theoretical knowledge on practical systems. This is my chance to do that. It will be extremely beneficial for my understanding of wireless systems and since this project is so relevant to my research, I would like to pursue it after summer as well and contribute to the GNU Radio open source community. Thank you. Kind Regards, Asma Afzal. ---
**Author:** ![Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Asma_Afzal)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gsoc-2014-wireless-network-in-the-loop/239677/3 "2014-03-18T00:54:56Z")
Dear Nico, Thank-you for getting back to me. I understand the needs of the community for a GUI for existing functionality. I am still interested in working on this angle of the project. I took a look at Omnet++ and it is quite impressive. Its built on the eclipse framework. And is also open source. An alternative possibility could be adding to the graphical side of the existing Gnu Radio Companion (GRC). “One aspect (and also a new feature) should be the visualization of the network structure/layout and node distribution itself where one also should be able to randomly deploy nodes and thus create a network structure.” Please correct me if I am wrong. The required functionality is a gui like Omnet++. But with gr-winelo blocks representing nodes and channels. The user can add/delete nodes. And select which channel blocks to put between them. I would like to work on this project. However, for my proposal, I need to be a bit more specific regarding the project requirements so I can study and formulate my timeline/deliverables accordingly. Could you please share any relevant resource on gr-winelo with me? apart from the FOSDEM talk. And also elaborate more on the requirements of the gui. e.g. the underlying framework for gui? eclipse? gtk/qt? etc… Kind Regards Asma Afzal /On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 5:33 PM, Otterbach, Nico [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: Asma, First of all: I’m sorry for my late reply. Last week I had a talk with some other GR developers and we came to the conclusion that channel models alone are not of high impoortance right now. We did a brainstorming about the most import WiNeLo projects at this time. Hence, we all agreed on the fact, that we have to work on the framework itself. As a consequence, I want to propose you another possible project: We need some kind of GUI for the already existing functionality. One aspect (and also a new feature) should be the visualization of the network structure/layout and node distribution itself, where one also should be able to randomly deploy nodes and thus create a network structure. There should something similar to the Oment+±GUI or something like that. I will also update the GSOC/page during the day! Are you still interessted in working on the Wireless Netowrks In-the-Loop project at this point? I really hope so, but I can understand if that doesn’t fit to your plans anymore. Best regards Nico/ – View this message in context: [http://gnuradio.4.n7.nabble.com/GSoC-2014-Wireless-Network-in-the-loop-tp46822p47026.html](http://gnuradio.4.n7.nabble.com/GSoC-2014-Wireless-Network-in-the-loop-tp46822p47026.html) Sent from the GnuRadio mailing list archive at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com). ---
**Author:** ![Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@Asma\_Afzal](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Asma_Afzal)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gsoc-2014-wireless-network-in-the-loop/239677/4 "2014-03-12T20:47:33Z")
Thank you for your response. Considering the timeline of GSoC, I am more interested in implementing channel models. That way I can stick to the software domain to test and validate my work. Also, I have frequently used Rayleigh/Ricean/Nakagami models in MATLAB and I am familiar with the math behind them. The available GR channel model blocks in the following link use addition of sinusoids and filters to approximate a channel response. [GNU Radio Manual and C++ API Reference: Channel Model Blocks](http://gnuradio.org/doc/doxygen-3.7/page_channels.html) I found a more accurate implementation of Rayleigh and Rician fading on GNU radio on this link: [https://www.cgran.org/browser/projects/usrp\_fading\_simulator/trunk/src/lib?rev=68](https://www.cgran.org/browser/projects/usrp_fading_simulator/trunk/src/lib?rev=68) It follows this paper: [http://volta.sdsu.edu/~amir/Alimohammad09aCompact.pdf](http://volta.sdsu.edu/~amir/Alimohammad09aCompact.pdf) A number of other fading channels can be implemented as GR blocks. 1. Log-normal shadowing can be implemented as standard GR block to model Large scale fading and it finds its use in a number of mobility related applications. I have found a paper relevant to its 2D simulation: [http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1247814](http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1247814) 2. Nakagami-m channel: Figure 3 of the following paper describes how correlated samples of a nakagami-m faded channel can be generated [http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=01412063](http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=01412063) I couldn’t find a GR based implementation of a basic path loss model. A simple block implementation for path loss is necessary- for various environments with a distance parameter (source-destination) and a parameter of path loss exponent (range 2-5). If the above mentioned channel impairments are successfully implemented, they encapsulate Rayleigh, Rician, Suzuki, Composite Rician-Shadowing environments. Please give me your opinion about these. Is there any other specific model i should be focusing on? What will be a sufficient goal for my GSoC? I’m not sure if I am aiming too high at this point :). – View this message in context: [http://gnuradio.4.n7.nabble.com/GSoC-2014-Wireless-Network-in-the-loop-tp46822p46913.html](http://gnuradio.4.n7.nabble.com/GSoC-2014-Wireless-Network-in-the-loop-tp46822p46913.html) Sent from the GnuRadio mailing list archive at [Nabble.com](http://Nabble.com).