Simulation issues for future wireless modems

Mobile communication systems present several design challenges that stem from the mobility of users throughout the system and the time-varying multipath channel and interference. To address these challenges, future wireless modems will rely on performance enhancing techniques such as adaptive antennas, DSP-based interference rejection techniques, and real-time signal processing for capacity improvement. The authors present an overview of key simulation issues for wireless communications systems. First, the burst error characteristics of the mobile channel require the selection of appropriate performance measures. Second, accurate simulations require realistic channel models that include the effects of attenuation, multipath propagation, noise, and interference. Third, link-level simulation of wireless systems requires attention to details of system implementation including the effects of nonlinearities. Finally, efficient simulation of CDMA systems may require a combination of analytic and simulation techniques.<>