Device-to-Device (D2D) Discovery Simulator for 3GPP and Public Safety Network (PSN)

Abstract

The Public Safety Network (PSN) is important for providing communication after a possible disaster. It provides a communication opportunity between the victims under the wreckage and the rescue team in the case of base stations do not function. Device-to-device (D2D) discovery and communication provides communication services in such difficult situations without the requirement of network infrastructure and by reducing call traffic in cellular communication networks. Therefore, device discovery according to different parameter values in the simulator environment for 3GPP and PSN provides great convenience to users in the application phase. In this study, we presented a device-to-device (D2D) discovery simulator based on the Matlab Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the students and researchers related to the wireless communication area. In this simulator, there are different pathloss models for D2D communication along with the parameters suggested by 3GPP and PSN for educational and research purposes. D2D discovery results are given in visual graphics with the parameter settings in the simulator's interface. Thanks to the D2D discovery simulator, the students and researchers can easily understand how the user mobile devices discover each other which is necessary for D2D communication in the disaster area. They can also compare device discovery algorithms with different parameters and models. Six different scenario examples and an evaluation questionnaire about the D2D discovery simulator were proposed to students and researchers at a University in Turkey. The users (students and researchers) can easily test D2D discovery algorithms with different simulation parameters with a user-friendly interface thanks to the developed simulator.