Performance Evaluation of Network Systems Accounting for User Behaviors

Considering user behaviors in the performance evaluation of mobile networks is crucial as traffic generation in such networks is highly dependent on mobility and communication activities of mobile users. This paper presents a simulator that can faithfully simulate user behaviors together with the target network system. The following three components have been implemented in a network simulator in order to model realistic user behaviors: (i) a function of loading geographical data for the target area, (ii) a pedestrian mobility model in which users walk along streets based on the given geographical data, and (iii) a communication behavioral model, which accounts for correlations between user profiles and their communication activities. Simulation of a mobile network system is performed and shown that the simulator replicates realistic behaviors of individual users, and also that the user behaviors do influence the predicted overall system performance. This indicates the importance of accounting for user behaviors in mobile network system evaluation.