On the use of pattern-based shaping for emulating delay characteristics of mobile channels

Abstract: Trace based emulation is an approach that creates a synthetic network environment from observing network parameters. This approach is extensively useful for testing applications or protocols which are to be deployed in real networks. Repeatability and ease of debugging in a controlled environment are the important characteristics for successful testing, where applications/protocols are completely abstract to this synthetic network. Network emulation is an effective way to achieve it. KauNet is one such network emulator that makes use of pattern based shaping for deterministic emulations. Patterns are simple offline files that contain data sets in steps that indicate at which point the emulation should take place. Thus, patterns generated from mobile network traces are inserted in emulator to mimic the original network behavior. This work focused on reproducing original traffic traces using pattern based approach, thus imitating a target network. Also pattern sizes are simplified and its consequences are studied. In achieving it, results show that it is possible to effectively reproduce real network and simplification of patterns can be made at the expense of some accuracy.