Quasi-static method for predicting link-level performance

In this paper, we investigate the performance of a quasi-static method used to predict link-level error performance in dynamic system simulations. Two flavors of the quasi-static approach are used to model the link characteristics: (a) static curves with fudge factors; and (b) short-term frame error curves. For the fudge factor based method, we examine the various factors (or penalties) required for the method to work properly, their limitations in capturing the various features of the high-speed packet data channel, and their effects on the overall accuracy of the technique. Here, we concentrate on three important penalties: puncturing penalty, Doppler penalty, and demapping penalty. The quasistatic method based on short-term frame error curves is used to generate frame erasures for voice and control channels associated with high-speed packet data channels. From simulation results, it is shown that both variations of the quasi-static method can provide accurate prediction of link-level performance at certain operating ranges, provided that the penalties are correctly obtained. At low frame error rates and moderate to high speeds, however, the quasi-static method often fails to accurately reflect frame error performance at the link level.