Low complexity user loading emulation for 3G wireless systems testbeds

In a real-time test or demonstration environment/setup with support for only a few users, capturing the effects of large number of users in the system on a single user in terms of delay experienced and allocation of the shared resources is a challenge. In such a scenario, we propose a technique to emulate (or capture) the presence of large number of users with multiple QoS, resource constraints and channel conditions which we collectively refer to as load, without the load having to be present. We also implement the proposed loading emulation technique in Qualcomm's prototype VoIP over HSPA system and compare the results of applying such a technique with results from Qualcomm's network simulations supporting multiple users. We show that this emulation can be used to effectively capture load in a 3G HSPA+ test equipment.