An Introduction to National Instruments

NS-3 / LTE Platform for Network Prototyping

Dr. Douglas Kim Dr. Nicola Michailow
National Instruments, Austin National Instruments, Dresden 23. March 2017
 Outline
I.
5G use
Master textcases
styles
Prototyping requirements
Second level
Platform limitations
o Third level
Fourth level
II. A Platform for MAC/PHY Prototyping
MAC
PHY
L1-L2 API

III. Platform Specifications

IV. Conclusions

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 Introduction

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Source:
http://www.astri.org/technologies/technology-divisions/communications-technologies/5g-forward-
looking-research/
?
?
The evolution of mobile networks

5
Fourth level
Master text styles

Third level
Second level

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 What is 5G?
>10 Gb/s peak rate
Focus on expanding the user experience.
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

100x more devices

Massive numbers of
devices: Think sensor
networks.

<1 ms latency
Ultra reliability and low
latency for mission critical
applications: Think car-to-
car communications that
help prevent collisions.
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 5G Vectors in Need of Prototyping
MasterMIMO
Massive text styles mmWave
New Radio Access
Wireless Networks
Technologies (RAT)
Second level
Dramatically increased Utilize potential of Improve bandwidth Consistent connectivity
number of antenna Third level extremely wide bandwidths
o elements utilization and latency by meeting the 1000x
Fourth level
on base station enabling at frequency ranges once evolving the Physical Layer, traffic demand for 5G by:
beamforming. thought impractical for e.g. with flexible numerology. Densification
commercial wireless. SDN
NFV
CRAN

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 Future networks architecture

4G
Master text styles
Second level

Source: 5GPPP, Why the EU is betting big on 5G, 2015

Heterogeneous networks:
o Third
Macro cells + Smalllevel
cells
Fourth level

trend
Macro Cell

Small / Pico Cells

The trend to heterogeneous networks started in 4G as a mean to increase throughout.

New 5G use cases will bring unprecedented diversity and density to wireless networks.
Heterogeneous networks suffer from interference.
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 Network densification
4G Master text styles
5G
Second level Macro
o Third level
CoMP LTE F1
Fourth level

control
data Small
mmWave
da
Small ta
LTE F2

data
ICIC / eICIC
Macro Small WiFi
Pico
PRBs / TTIs
 The Need for 5G MAC/PHY Prototyping
Master text styles
5G

A single requirement (e.g higher data rate)
Second level solved by a single technology (e.g. mmWave)
o Third level

5G Fourth level A multitude of diverse requirements

solved by a set of inter-working technologies

v Real-time prototyping and simulation of end-to-end 5G dense wireless

networks including cellular, WLAN and mmWave
v Software defined networks (SDN) experimentations for advanced
network coordination and optimization research
v Cross layer optimizations between the protocol layers
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 Platform requirements
Master text styles
Goal:
Realistic over-the-air
Second levelwireless transmission in heterogeneous network environments.
o Third level
Fourth level
Support multiple base stations and terminals
Support different access technologies (LTE, 802.11, 5G)
Support various carrier frequencies (below 6 GHz and above 6 GHz)
Support different bandwidths (from 40 MHz up to 2 GHz)
Accessible and modifiable source code
Scalable CPU and FPGA processing power
Simple and unifying tool flow for software development using LabVIEW
Communications
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 Network Research Platforms
Master text styles

Network Simulators
Second level
and Protocol Stacks:
o Third level
Fourth level

Main Limitation:
v All layers of the communication system are represented on a CPU.
v Simulations can take several hours.

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 Building Blocks
Master text styles flow control
memory operations
Second level
o Third level MAC and higher
Fourth level

API

PHY
streaming based processing
point-by-point operations

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 NS-3/LTE Platform for Network Prototyping
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

Use cases
Summary
Proof-of-concept of new PHY algorithms in end-to-end real-time environments.
Example integration
Over-the-air of an open
experiments w/ source
modifiedprotocol stack with
upper layers, e.g.FPGA based
new MAC SDR
procedures.
platform that runs a real-time physical layer implementation in LabVIEW.
Optimization of algorithms across layers.
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 The NI SDR platform for sub-6 GHz prototyping
Software Hardware
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level
LTE NS-3/LTE MAC

Application Application PHY

Framework Example
802.11 LTE-U/LAA

5 GHz
Application Application
Framework Example
MIMO
Application
Framework 15
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 The National Instruments MAC/
PHY Prototyping Platform

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 LTE Application Framework (1)
Host
data
MasterFPGA
text stylesRF
transmitter RF Hardware RF Hardware
RF
FPGA receiver Host
data
LTE channel LTE OFDM RF Time/freq. LTE OFDM LTE channel
source,
controls Second level
encoder modulation
impairments
correction
DAC RF up
down
ADC impairments
correction
synch. demodulation decoder
sink,
controls

o Third level
Fourth level

Features summary Receiver algorithms

Uplink and downlink transceiver RF impairment correction
20 MHz bandwidth Automatic gain control
TDD and FDD Time/frequency synchronization
SISO Cell-specific and UE-specific channel
estimation
Data channels, simplified control channel
Channel equalization of data symbols
LTE compliant channel encoding and
decoding
Up to
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 LTE Application Framework (2)
Simplifying design
Master text choices
styles

DL logical
Fixed 20 MHz bandwidth

channel

Second level PCCH BCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH
In TDD, fixed UL/DL configuration 5 and
o Third configuration
special subframe level 5
Fourth level
Fixed normal cyclic prefix mode

DL transport
No support for SSS, PBCH, PCFICH

channel
PHY
and PHICH ctrl BCH PCH SL-SCH CCI

MIB and SIB are sent as common

transport blocks
DCI messages are transmitted in TBs

DL physical
PDCC PDSC

channel
over the PHY PBCH PHICH
H H
Uplink realized with OFDMA instead of
SC-FDMA
No support for PRACH and PUCCH
higher layer logical
No support for HARQ channels are mapped
to PDSCH
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 Network Simulator NS-3
Source: www.nsnam.org

NS-3 istext
Master
an open
stylessource (GNU GPLv2) discrete-event network simulator
implemented in C++.
Second level
o Third level
NS-3 provides various wireless/IP simulation models including LTE, Wi-Fi
Fourth level

LTE model includes radio access network (RAN) and core network (EPC).
Supports scheduler for interacting with real systems via Femto Forum API.

Radio Access Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

Network (RAN)

Internet
SGW PGW Service
MME
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 LTE Protocol Stack
APP user plane App
Master
IP text styles IP IP IP
PDCP PDCP GTP-U GTP-U GTP-U GTP-U

RLC
Second level
RLC
UDP/
UDP/IP
UDP/ UDP/ L2 L2
IP IP IP
MAC o ThirdMAC
level L2 L2 L2 L2
Fourth level
PHY L1 L1 L1
PHY L1 L1 L1
S1-U S5/S8 SGi
Internet
SGW PGW
Service
MME
LTE-Uu S1-MME S11
NAS NAS GTP- GTP-
L3 S1/X2- S1- GTP-C GTP-C
RRC RRC C C
AP AP
PDCP PDCP SCTP SCTP SCTP SCTP SCTP SCTP
L2 RLC RLC IP IP IP IP IP IP
MAC MAC L2 L2 L2 L2 L2 L2
L1 PHY PHY L1 L1 L1 L1 L1 L1

E-UTRAN (LTE) EPC (SAE)

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E-UTRAN (LTE) + EPC (SAE) = EPS
20
control plane
 NI Extensions to NS-3 (1)
UE eNB
Master text styles APP
SGW /
PGW
Second level IP IP
o Third level PDCP PDCP GTP GTP
Fourth level RLC RLC UDP UDP
MAC MAC IP IP
PHY emulation PHY emulation

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 NI Extensions to NS-3 (2)
UE eNB
Master text styles APP
SGW /
PGW
Second level IP IP
o Third level PDCP PDCP GTP GTP
Fourth level
NI extension to NS-3 RLC RLC UDP UDP
1.Disable PHY emulation MAC MAC IP IP
2.Separate eNB and UE L1-L2 API L1-L2 API

3.Incorporate real PHY

L1-L2 API L1-L2 API

PHY PHY
DA/AD+RF DA/AD+RF

UE eNB
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 NS-3 LENA LTE System Changes
Master text styles
Access toSecond level LtePdcp LtePdcp
scheduling
algorithm o Third level
Femto
LteRlc LteRlc
Forum
Fourth level
API
RrFfMacScheduler LteEnbMac LteEnbMac
Access to real time PHY

extension
NI
MAC PDUs and
MAC / PHY interface
control messages LteEnbPhy LteEnbPhy
PHY message handling
LteSpectrumPhy LteSpectrumPhy
NI API UDP message
SpectrumChannel NI L1-L2 API package / unpackage
To PHY via UDP

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 Platform Overview
eNB MAC eNB PHY UE PHY UE MAC
UDP UDP
Master text styles
API downlink API
over-the-air
Second level
o Third levelAPI API
uplink
Fourth
UDPlevel over-the-air UDP

eNB eNB UE UE
UDP over-the-air UDP
MAC PHY PHY MAC
TX_REQ
(downlink)
1 ms RX_IND

TX_REQ
(uplink)
RX_IND 1 ms

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 Structure of TX_REQ (downlink) and RX_IND
Master text
ni_l1_msg_header

[U32] m_message_id
styles
num_dci_packets

[U32] num_dci_packets
dci_elements
(1)
[U32] m_idx
dci_elements
(N)
[U32] m_idx
payload_elements (1)

payload_entry_header
payload_elements (N)

payload_entry_header
[U32] m_message_size [U32] m_type [U32] m_type
[U32] m_sfn
[U32] m_tti
Second level [U32] m_rnti
[U32] m_rb_bitmap
[U32] m_rnti
[U32] m_rb_bitmap
[U32] m_idx
[U32] m_type
[U32] m_idx
[U32] m_type

o Third level [U32] m_rb_shift

[U32] m_res_alloc
[U32] m_rb_shift
[U32] m_res_alloc
[U32] m_size

[U32] m_size

[U32] m_tbs0 [U32] m_tbs0

Fourth level [U32] m_tbs1 [U32] m_tbs1 m_payload m_payload
[U32] m_mcs0 [U32] m_mcs0
[U8] payload byte (1) [U8] payload byte (1)
[U32] m_mcs1 [U32] m_mcs1
... ...
[U32] m_rv0 [U32] m_rv0
[U8] payload byte (M1) [U8] payload byte (MN)
[U32] m_rv1 [U32] m_rv1

ni_l1_msg_header num_dci_packets cqi_status payload_elements (1) payload_elements (N)

[U32] m_message_id [U32] num_dci_packets [U32] cqi_status
payload_entry_header payload_entry_header
[U32] m_message_size
[U32] m_sfn [U32] m_idx [U32] m_idx
[U32] m_tti [U32] m_type [U32] m_type
[U32] m_size [U32] m_size

m_payload m_payload
[U8] payload byte (1) [U8] payload byte (1)
... ...
[U8] payload byte (M1) [U8] payload byte (MN)
 PHY perspective (DL TX)
Master text styles Send
Receive Transfer
dynamic
Second level
packets L1-L2 API payload to
PHY
from
o Third MAC
level FPGA
config
Fourth level

Prepare TTI Prepare TTI Prepare TTI Prepare TTI

FPGA host

N-1 N N+1 N+2 time

Transmit TTI Transmit TTI Transmit TTI Transmit TTI
N-2 N-1 N N+1

Encode OFDM Digital to

Multiplex
trigger new TTI data and mod. analog
data and
control (IFFT+CP conversio
pilots
channels ) n

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 Platform Specifications

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 Functional Split
Master text styles
NS-3
Second level LTE App. Fw. LTE App. Fw.
C++ code compiled for Linux LV Comms RT LV Comms FPGA
o Third level
RT / NI Linux RT
Fourth level

UDP DMA FIFOs/ over-the-

host interface air
Laptop / PC / Controller Controller USRP-RIO / FlexRIO+FAM

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 NI Linux RT
Real-Time target
Master text support added in LV Comms 2.0.
styles
Second level
Includes features for real-time multi-threading and determinism
o Third level
Fourth level Native LabVIEW toolflow
(host <-> RTOS <-> FPGA <-> RF)
Deployable to PXIe controller

Native Linux applications can run in

New Linux-based real-time operating system parallel with LV RT VIs
(C++, Python, etc.)
Integrate C/C++ functions via
shared libraries directly in a LV RT
VI
Low-latency inter-process
29 communication (Linux-to-LabVIEW)
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 Hardware Setup (1 node)
Control PC Chassis,
Windows 7 e.g. NI 1082
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

Ethernet

MXI

RT controller, Baseband and RF,

NI 8135 or NI 8880 e.g. NI USRP 2954R

cables, attenuators,
or antennas
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 Hardware Setup (2 nodes)
Control PC Chassis,
Windows 7 e.g. NI 1082
Master text styles Ethernet
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level
Switch

MXI

RT controller, Baseband and RF,

NI 8135 or NI 8880 e.g. NI USRP 2954R

cables, attenuators, splitter and combiner

or antennas
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 Functional Split
GUI UE MAC
LV Comms v2.0 NS-3 on NI Linux RT
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

eNB MAC
NS-3 on NI Linux RT

eNB PHY UE PHY

FPGA IP on USRP-RIO FPGA IP on USRP-RIO
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 Functional split (2 devices)
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

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 LV Comms GUI config
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

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 LV Comms GUI DL
Master text styles
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

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 Example Research

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 Example: TTI Shortening for LTE-FDD
Master text styles
Objective: Investigate latency reduction techniques.
Second level
o Third level
Downlink Uplink
Fourth level

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 Example: 5G New Radio Access Technology
Master text styles
Lead User collaboration with TU Dresden
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level
Objective: Investigate flexible numerology and new waveforms.

Mobile Robot Cloud

New RAT New RAT

and Control
Processing
Sensor

Improved
Improved
(UL TX) (UL RX)

MAC
MAC
Environment
New RAT New RAT
Actor
(DL RX) (DL TX)

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 Conclusions

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 Summary
Master
NI offerstext
styles for flexible, open and scalable real-time
a platform
Second level
prototyping
o Thirdacross
level MAC and PHY layers (LTE + WiFi + etc.).
Fourth level

The platform will enable faster evaluation of algorithms with

simulations and prototyping.

The architecture integrates a multitude of NI software and hardware.

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 Summary
Master
Entry text
point forstyles
obtaining the source code, more information, etc.:
Second level
o Third level
Fourth level

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 Learning Resources
Master text styles
NS-3/LTE
Second
LabVIEW level
Communications LTE Application Framework
Application Example
o Third level
Fourth level
Training courses available Training course available NS-3 is an open source tool
Host programming Understand the architecture Find learning resources at
of the LTE physical layer. www.nsnam.org
FPGA programming with Learn which parameters can v NS-3 training is not offered
LabVIEW be controlled with software. by National Instruments.
Real-time programming with Learn how to use and modify
LabVIEW the LTE physical layer.

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 Thank you.
Further reading
NI 5G http://www.ni.com/5g/
LabVIEW Communications LTE Application Frameworks
http://www.ni.com/white-paper/52503/en/
CROWD White Paper http://www.ni.com/white-paper/52339/en/
CROWD Project website http://www.ict-crowd.eu/
NS3 LTE Module Documentation http://lena.cttc.es/manual/

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