Wireless Networks Division

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

CTL’s Wireless Networks Division specializes in two areas of wireless technology research and analysis:
   • Communications networks and protocols, which involves data transport, routing, resource management and medium access control.   
   • Digital communications, which looks at the essential technologies enabling communications networks, including signal processing, modulation, error control coding and channel modeling. Across both of these competence areas, we bring our capabilities in performance measurements, model development, experimental testbeds and network prototyping to bear.

MODELING & SIMULATION

Accurately characterizing the environments in which future network hardware and protocols will operate is a vital precursor to wireless network modeling and protocol development. Such modeling ultimately helps industry identify potential cost-savings and sets realistic expectations for network coverage, capacity, scalability and performance.

Our channel modeling work employs existing and custom models applying mathematical analysis and computer simulation to factors affecting radio-frequency propagation such as terrain, clutter, building morphologies, antenna height and center frequencies. We work with CTL’s RF Technology Division in developing and enhancing channel sounders capable of completely characterizing channels operating at the high frequencies expected to be used in NextG systems. Our channel modeling experts then use these measurements as inputs for their models.

EXPERIMENTAL TESTBEDS

While much of our work involves mathematical modeling and computer simulation, our experimental testbeds help us validate our models, develop benchmarks and take physical measurements of wireless systems and their key components. We start with commercial broadband devices (e.g., 5G NR base station and user equipment), protocol analyzers and emulators, which provide a highly controlled, non-radiating environment to characterize how high-speed wireless devices transmitting over multiple channels in different environments might interact. But when our requirements push past the boundaries of what’s commercially available, we develop our own solutions, such as our real-time spectrum monitoring system using software-defined radios.