• Acronym: MultiRat-Coord
  • Short description: Driven by the growing number of connected devices, the coordination and coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies such as LTE, WiFi as well as 5G has become a key research area today. The MultiRat-Coord prototyping system focuses on the joint real-time experimentation of LTE and WiFi systems utilizing a single software-defined radio platform.  Additionally, a 5G GFDM link is available using the same hardware. This platform allows new experimentation results that will lead to a better understanding of the trade-offs when using different radio access technologies together as it would be the case in practical wireless network deployments.
  • Conceptual figure:

Multirat-coord01Networking Setup Overview

Multirat-coord025G, LTE and WiFi Software Stacks

  • Hardware platforms: NI USRP-2974, NI USRP-2954, NI USRP-2944, NI USRP-2953, NI PXI-8880
  • Testbeds where the functionality can be used: OWL (Online Wireless Lab) (TU Dresden)
  • Supporting partner: National Instruments ([email protected])
  • Usage policies for accessing software & licensing terms:
    • ORCA Open Call: Guaranteed access for ORCA partners and (funded) Third Parties during the ORCA project
      • NI LTE and 802.11 Application Framework including NI L1-L2 API LV Implementation: The code is the property of National Instruments. The code is not open source. License may be granted to ORCA partners, funded Third Parties and other External Parties through executing a Technology License Agreement. See NI Application Framework License.
      • NI L1-L2 API C++ ns3 Implementation: The code is open source, and can be accessed by both ORCA partners, funded Third Parties and other External Parties.
      • Network Simulator 3 (ns3) Multi-RAT extensions: The code is open source, and can be accessed by both ORCA partners, funded Third Parties and other External Parties.
      • 5G GFDM extensions to NI LTE Application Framework: For the NI LTE Application Framework software see term above. The extensions made for 5G GFDM are licensed under the terms of GPL and they are free accessible for non-commercial academic use (for other purposes contact TU Dresden)
    • Beyond ORCA: NI software adaptations and ns-3 extensions are available through open github repository: https://github.com/ni/NI-ns3-ApplicationExample. The 5G GFDM extensions will be available under agreement with TU Dresden.
  • Link to technical information:
    • ORCA Deliverables
      • D3.1: NI 802.11 L1-L2 API
      • D3.3: NI LTE L1-L2 API
      • D4.3: Platform description of network coordination strategies for LTE and WiFi
      • D3.5: 5G GFDM PHY integration into Multi-RAT platform
      • D4.5: Multi-RAT control functionalities and networking examples