VLC/RF Network Simulator: An Integrated Approach to Optical and Radio Frequency Connectivity

Hybrid systems composed of visible light communication (VLC) and radio frequency (RF) networks have gained great popularity in recent years, due to their great adaptability, flexibility and reliability in different scenarios. To ensure the success and efficiency of a hybrid VLC/RF network, it is essential to have a simulator that allows different aspects to be evaluated and configured. Using a simulator, it is possible to simulate different scenarios and analyze the network response to these changes, identifying potential problems and defining improvement strategies. This work presents a discrete event simulator for hybrid VLC/RF networks in an indoor hybrid environment composed of VLC and RF networks. The simulator can be used to plan VLC/RF networks and evaluate resource allocation strategies. The developed simulator was validated using hybrid network resource allocation strategies published in the literature and, additionally, was used to evaluate network operation parameters including number of users per access point, connection time, slot and frame allocation for connection and delay.