A simulation framework for radio resource management in WiFi networks

The performance of WiFi MAC protocol critically depends on the wireless environment of its operation. The radio resource management (RRM) algorithms such as transmit power control (TPC), channel selection (CS) and user association (UA) enables efficient management of the wireless environment and optimal operation of the wireless network. In this paper, we present a simulation framework for RRM in the network simulator ns-3 that permits us to evaluate the performance of realistic WiFi networks (with a heterogeneous mix of devices and proprietary algorithms for RRM). The proposed framework includes a packet scan radio that measures the activity in the wireless channel and an RRM controller that manages WiFi device behaviour. The framework permits a centralized as well as distributed control of the wireless channel. We illustrate the usefulness of the framework with an evaluation of a transmit power control algorithm for a variety of network scenarios.