This project presents a mechanism for instrumentation of secure VoIP calls. The experiments were run under different network conditions and security systems. VoIP services such as Google Talk, Express Talk and Skype were under test. The project allowed analysis of the voice quality of the VoIP services based on the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) values generated by Perceptual valuation of Speech Quality (PESQ). The quality of the audio streams produced were subjected to end-to-end delay, jitter, packet loss and extra processing in the networking hardware and end devices due to Internetworking Layer security or Transport Layer security implementations. The MOS values were mapped to Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality for wideband (PESQ-WB) scores. From these PESQ-WB scores, the graphs of the mean of 10 runs and box and whisker plots for each parameter were drawn. Analysis on the graphs was performed in order to deduce the quality of each VoIP service. The E-model was used to predict the network readiness and Common vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) was used to predict the network vulnerabilities. The project also provided the mechanism to measure the throughput for each test case. The overall performance of each VoIP service was determined by PESQ-WB scores, CVSS scores and the throughput. The experiment demonstrated the relationship among VoIP performance, VoIP security and VoIP service type. The experiment also suggested that, when compared to an unsecure IPIP tunnel, Internetworking Layer security like IPSec ESP or Transport Layer security like OpenVPN TLS would improve a VoIP security by reducing the vulnerabilities of the media part of the VoIP signal. Morever, adding a security layer has little impact on the VoIP voice quality.

In this thesis, we investigate two different system infrastructures in underlay cognitive radio network, in which two popular techniques, cross-layer design and cooperative communication, are considered, respectively. In particular, we introduce the Aggressive Adaptive Modulation and Coding (A-AMC) into the cross-layer design and achieve the optimal boundary points in closed form to choose the AMC and A-AMC transmission modes by taking into account the Channel State Information (CSI) from the secondary transmitter to both the primary receiver and the secondary receiver. What’s more, for the cooperative communication design, we consider three different relay selection schemes: Partial Relay Selection, Opportunistic Relay Selection and Threshold Relay Selection. The Probability Density Functions (PDFs) of the Signal-to- Noise Ratio (SNR) in each hop for different selection schemes are provided, and then the exact closed-form expressions for the end-to-end packet loss rate in the secondary link considering the cooperation of the Decode-and-Forward (DF) relay for different relay selection schemes are derived.

The long-term evolution (LTE) network has been proposed to provide better network capacity than the earlier 3G network. Driven by the market, the conventional LTE (3G) network standard could not achieve the expectations of the international mobile telecommunications advanced (IMT-Advanced) standard. To satisfy this gap, the LTE-Advanced was introduced with additional network functionalities to meet up with the IMT-Advanced Standard. In addition, due to the need to minimize operational expenditure (OPEX) and reduce human interventions, the wireless cellular networks are required to be self-aware, self-reconfigurable, self-adaptive and smart. An example of such network involves transceiver base stations (BTSs) within a self-organizing network (SON). Besides these great breakthroughs, the conventional LTE and LTE-Advanced networks have not been designed with the intelligence of scalable capacity output especially in sudden demographic changes, namely during events of football, malls, worship centres or during religious and cultural festivals. Since most of these events cannot be predicted, modern cellular networks must be scalable in terms of capacity and coverage in such unpredictable demographic surge. Thus, the use of dynamic BTSs is proposed to be used in modern and future cellular networks for crowd and demographic change managements. Dynamic BTSs are complements of the capability of SONs to search, determine and deploy less crowded/idle BTSs to densely crowded cells for scalable capacity management. The mobile BTSs will discover areas of dark coverages and fill-up the gap in terms of providing cellular services. The proposed network relieves the LTE network from overloading thus reducing packet loss, delay and improves fair load sharing. In order to trail the best (least) path, a bio-inspired optimization algorithm based on swarm-particle optimization is proposed over the dynamic BTS network. It uses the ant-colony optimization algorithm (ACOA) to find the least path. A comparison between an optimized path and the un-optimized path showed huge gain in terms of delay, fair load sharing and the percentage of packet loss.

This thesis explores various Wi-Fi redundancy methods to enhance network resilience in industrial settings. Maintaining uninterrupted data transmission is crucial due to the increasing reliance on wireless technologies for industrial operations. Our research investigates the performance of different redundancy strategies, including Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and Truncated Automatic Repeat Request (TARQ), through practical prototyping and testing on specific hardware configurations. We aim to assess these methods' effectiveness in mitigating packet loss and improving transmission consistency under varying attenuation. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights into the potential of existing redundancy methods to improve Wi-Fi network robustness. This thesis evaluates two main redundancy methods: MLO and TARQ. In our findings, MLO demonstrated improved packet transmission consistency at lower levels of signal attenuation compared to standard implementations. TARQ, particularly on the 2.4 GHz band, significantly reduced packet loss across a wide range of attenuation levels, thus showing its potential to enhance network reliability.

<p>The success of the current Internet relies to a large extent on a cooperation between the users and the network. The network signals its current state to the users by marking or dropping packets. The users then strive to maximize the sending rate without causing network congestion. To achieve this, the users implement a flow-control algorithm that controls the rate at which data packets are sent into the Internet. More specifically, the <i>Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)</i> is used by the users to adjust the sending rate in response to changing network conditions. TCP uses the observation of packet loss events and estimates of the round trip time (RTT) to adjust its sending rate. </p><p>In this thesis we investigate and propose stochastic models for TCP. The models are used to estimate network performance like throughput, link utilization, and packet loss rate. The first part of the thesis introduces the TCP protocol and contains an extensive TCP modeling survey that summarizes the most important TCP modeling work. Reviewed models are categorized as renewal theory models, fixed-point methods, fluid models, processor sharing models or control theoretic models. The merits of respective category is discussed and guidelines for which framework to use for future TCP modeling is given. </p><p>The second part of the thesis contains six papers on TCP modeling. Within the renewal theory framework we propose single source TCP-Tahoe and TCP-NewReno models. We investigate the performance of these protocols in both a DropTail and a RED queuing environment. The aspects of TCP performance that are inherently depending on the actual implementation of the flow-control algorithm are singled out from what depends on the queuing environment.</p><p>Using the fixed-point framework, we propose models that estimate packet loss rate and link utilization for a network with multiple TCP-Vegas, TCP-SACK and TCP-Reno on/off sources. The TCP-Vegas model is novel and is the first model capable of estimating the network's operating point for TCP-Vegas sources sending on/off traffic. All TCP and network models in the contributed research papers are validated via simulations with the network simulator <i>ns-2</i>. </p><p>This thesis serves both as an introduction to TCP and as an extensive orientation about state of the art stochastic TCP models.</p>

The success of the current Internet relies to a large extent on a cooperation between the users and the network. The network signals its current state to the users by marking or dropping packets. The users then strive to maximize the sending rate without causing network congestion. To achieve this, the users implement a flow-control algorithm that controls the rate at which data packets are sent into the Internet. More specifically, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is used by the users to adjust the sending rate in response to changing network conditions. TCP uses the observation of packet loss events and estimates of the round trip time (RTT) to adjust its sending rate. In this thesis we investigate and propose stochastic models for TCP. The models are used to estimate network performance like throughput, link utilization, and packet loss rate. The first part of the thesis introduces the TCP protocol and contains an extensive TCP modeling survey that summarizes the most important TCP modeling work. Reviewed models are categorized as renewal theory models, fixed-point methods, fluid models, processor sharing models or control theoretic models. The merits of respective category is discussed and guidelines for which framework to use for future TCP modeling is given. The second part of the thesis contains six papers on TCP modeling. Within the renewal theory framework we propose single source TCP-Tahoe and TCP-NewReno models. We investigate the performance of these protocols in both a DropTail and a RED queuing environment. The aspects of TCP performance that are inherently depending on the actual implementation of the flow-control algorithm are singled out from what depends on the queuing environment. Using the fixed-point framework, we propose models that estimate packet loss rate and link utilization for a network with multiple TCP-Vegas, TCP-SACK and TCP-Reno on/off sources. The TCP-Vegas model is novel and is the first model capable of estimating the network's operating point for TCP-Vegas sources sending on/off traffic. All TCP and network models in the contributed research papers are validated via simulations with the network simulator ns-2. This thesis serves both as an introduction to TCP and as an extensive orientation about state of the art stochastic TCP models.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-06-07T11:55:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 robertomussideoliveira.pdf: 1293292 bytes, checksum: 78c6c9fd9415c0b3990a1aaf55b842a2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-06-07T13:31:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 robertomussideoliveira.pdf: 1293292 bytes, checksum: 78c6c9fd9415c0b3990a1aaf55b842a2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-07T13:31:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 robertomussideoliveira.pdf: 1293292 bytes, checksum: 78c6c9fd9415c0b3990a1aaf55b842a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-11 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nesse trabalho, discutimos o uso de protocolos de cooperação na subcamada de controle de acesso ao meio (CMAC) para reduzir a taxa de perda de pacote e aumentar o goodput em um sistema de comunicação banda larga via rede elétrica (PLC) de ambientes residenciais. Para apoiar essa discussão, nós, pela primeira vez, apresentamos uma análise estatística da taxa de erro de pacote (PER) de canais PLC residenciais a partir de dados medidos em um modelo com um único relay. Adicionalmente, nós esboçamos um simples protocolo CMAC capaz de explorar a diversidade oferecida por uma rede elétrica doméstica. Usando esse protocolo, nosso objetivo é mostrar o impacto da variação da largura de banda, da variação da PER e da posição relativa do relay no desempenho do sistema. Sendo assim, nós mostramos que a taxa de perda de pacote e o goodput melhoram quando a largura de banda de frequência aumenta. Além disso, resultados mostram que a cooperação na camada de enlace não oferece vantagens caso os valores de PER do enlace direto e do enlace intermediado pelo relay sejam muito altos ou muito baixos. Nós também notamos que as melhorias estudadas dependem da posição do nó relay em relação ao nó fonte e ao nó destino (i.e., notamos melhoras na rede nos casos em que o relay estava situado próximo à fonte e no meio do caminho entre a fonte e o destino). Finalmente, uma comparação entre os esquemas de acesso múltiplo por divisão de frequências ortogonais - acesso múltiplo por divisão de tempo (OFDMA-TDMA) e acesso múltiplo por divisão de tempo - multiplexação por divisão ortogonal de frequência (TDMA-OFDM) mostra que o simples protocolo CMAC é mais eficaz quando usado juntamente com o primeiro esquema do que com o último. Em suma, a nossa contribuição é dividida em duas etapas: primeiramente, desenvolvemos um simples protocolo MAC de cooperação que traz melhorias de desempenho na rede quando comparado com um sistema sem a cooperação; em segundo lugar, nós realizamos uma análise sistemática de diferentes cenários, mostrando os benefícios e limitações da cooperação na camada de enlace de redes PLC. / In this work, we discuss the use of cooperative medium access control (CMAC) protocols to reduce packet loss rate and to improve goodput of in-home broadband power line communication (PLC) systems. To support this discussion, we, for the first time, present a statistical packet error rate (PER) analysis of measured in-home PLC channels by adopting a single relay model. Additionally, we outline a simple CMAC protocol that is capable of exploiting the diversity offered by in-home electric power grids. Using this protocol, we aim to show the impact of bandwidth variation, PER variation and of relative relay location on system performance. Thus, we show that packet loss rate and goodput improve when frequency bandwidth increases. Also, results show that cooperation at the link layer does not offer advantages if the PER values of direct and relayed links are very high or very low. Furthermore, we note that the improvements depend on the location of the node relay in relation to the nodes source and the destination (i.e., network improves if the relay is located near the source or in the midway between the source and the destination). Finally, a comparison between orthogonal frequency division multiple access - time division multiple access (OFDMA-TDMA) and time division multiple access - orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TDMA-OFDM) schemes show that the simple CMAC protocol is more effective when it is used together with the former scheme than the latter.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-01T12:45:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 robertomussideoliveira.pdf: 1293292 bytes, checksum: 78c6c9fd9415c0b3990a1aaf55b842a2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-01T12:45:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 robertomussideoliveira.pdf: 1293292 bytes, checksum: 78c6c9fd9415c0b3990a1aaf55b842a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-11 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nesse trabalho, discutimos o uso de protocolos de coopera¸c˜ao na subcamada de controle de acesso ao meio (CMAC) para reduzir a taxa de perda de pacote e aumentar o goodput em um sistema de comunica¸c˜ao banda larga via rede el´etrica (PLC) de ambientes residenciais. Para apoiar essa discuss˜ao, n´os, pela primeira vez, apresentamos uma an´alise estat´ıstica da taxa de erro de pacote (PER) de canais PLC residenciais a partir de dados medidos em um modelo com um ´unico relay. Adicionalmente, n´os esbo¸camos um simples protocolo CMAC capaz de explorar a diversidade oferecida por uma rede el´etrica dom´estica. Usando esse protocolo, nosso objetivo ´e mostrar o impacto da varia¸c˜ao da largura de banda, da varia¸c˜ao da PER e da posi¸c˜ao relativa do relay no desempenho do sistema. Sendo assim, n´os mostramos que a taxa de perda de pacote e o goodput melhoram quando a largura de banda de frequˆencia aumenta. Al´em disso, resultados mostram que a coopera¸c˜ao na camada de enlace n˜ao oferece vantagens caso os valores de PER do enlace direto e do enlace intermediado pelo relay sejam muito altos ou muito baixos. N´os tamb´em notamos que as melhorias estudadas dependem da posi¸c˜ao do n´o relay em rela¸c˜ao ao n´o fonte e ao n´o destino (i.e., notamos melhoras na rede nos casos em que o relay estava situado pr´oximo `a fonte e no meio do caminho entre a fonte e o destino). Finalmente, uma compara¸c˜ao entre os esquemas de acesso m´ultiplo por divis˜ao de frequˆencias ortogonais - acesso m´ultiplo por divis˜ao de tempo (OFDMA-TDMA) e acesso m´ultiplo por divis˜ao de tempo - multiplexa¸c˜ao por divis˜ao ortogonal de frequˆencia (TDMA-OFDM) mostra que o simples protocolo CMAC ´e mais eficaz quando usado juntamente com o primeiro esquema do que com o ´ultimo. Em suma, a nossa contribui¸c˜ao ´e dividida em duas etapas: primeiramente, desenvolvemos um simples protocolo MAC de coopera¸c˜ao que traz melhorias de desempenho na rede quando comparado com um sistema sem a coopera¸c˜ao; em segundo lugar, n´os realizamos uma an´alise sistem´atica de diferentes cen´arios, mostrando os benef´ıcios e limita¸c˜oes da coopera¸c˜ao na camada de enlace de redes PLC. / In this work, we discuss the use of cooperative medium access control (CMAC) protocols to reduce packet loss rate and to improve goodput of in-home broadband power line communication (PLC) systems. To support this discussion, we, for the first time, present a statistical packet error rate (PER) analysis of measured in-home PLC channels by adopting a single relay model. Additionally, we outline a simple CMAC protocol that is capable of exploiting the diversity offered by in-home electric power grids. Using this protocol, we aim to show the impact of bandwidth variation, PER variation and of relative relay location on system performance. Thus, we show that packet loss rate and goodput improve when frequency bandwidth increases. Also, results show that cooperation at the link layer does not offer advantages if the PER values of direct and relayed links are very high or very low. Furthermore, we note that the improvements depend on the location of the node relay in relation to the nodes source and the destination (i.e., network improves if the relay is located near the source or in the midway between the source and the destination). Finally, a comparison between orthogonal frequency division multiple access - time division multiple access (OFDMA-TDMA) and time division multiple access - orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TDMA-OFDM) schemes show that the simple CMAC protocol is more effective when it is used together with the former scheme than the latter.