Investigating wireless networks coexistence issues through an interference aware simulator

In the modern wireless applications of factory automation, interference phenomena among near operating wireless networks can be the cause of severe performance degradation. To avoid this possibility and prevent deleterious system failures, simulations may offer a real and reliable solution. In this paper a new simulator is presented, allowing cross-layer analysis of interference phenomena arising among IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks. The purpose is to provide an accurate tool able to forecast possible interference effects on a WSN and by which optimize the setup of some suitable network parameters such as the position of wireless nodes.