How to Start Location Based Services in Networks Using NS2

To start Location-Based Services (LBS) using NS2 that are network applications, which frequently utilised in geographical data offering services like navigation, asset tracking, and geofencing. We will need to replicate and examine how location data can successfully utilise within in networks by leveraging NS2. Below is a brief instruction to get started LBS project using NS2:

Steps to Start LBS in Networks Projects in NS2

  1. Understand LBS in Networks
  • What are LBS?
    • Services distributing the certain network functionalities or data according to the geographical position of devices.
  • Examples:
    • Geofencing for IoT applications.
    • Location-aware routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs).
    • Navigation and route optimization.
  • Challenges:
    • Energy efficiency for resource-constrained devices.
    • Scalability within dense networks.
    • Real-time location tracking.
  1. Prepare Your Environment
  • Install NS2:
    • We can install the NS2 environment on a Linux-based system:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ns2 nam

    • Confirm the installation by executing example scripts.
  • Understand NS2 Basics:
    • Focus on TCL scripting for simulations and C++ programming for custom protocol changes.
  1. Define the Scope of Your Project
  • Choose a Specific Application:
    • Proximity-based data sharing.
    • Asset tracking for IoT.
    • Navigation systems within MANETs.
  • Performance Metrics:
    • Routing efficiency such as latency, packet delivery ratio.
    • Location accuracy.
    • Energy utilization.
  1. Design the Network Topology
  • Nodes:
    • It denotes the mobile devices, sensors, or base stations using nodes.
  • Links:
    • Replicate the mobile or IoT networks to utilise wireless links.
  • Mobility Models:
    • Mimic node movement to utilise NS2 mobility patterns such as Random Waypoint, Gauss-Markov.
  1. Write the TCL Script
  • Make a simulation including location-aware behavior in tcl script.
  • Example: Basic LBS Simulation including Proximity-Based Data Sharing

# Create a simulator

set ns [new Simulator]

# Trace and animation files

set tracefile [open trace.tr w]

set namfile [open output.nam w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Create nodes

set num_nodes 5

for {set i 0} {$i < $num_nodes} {incr i} {

set node($i) [$ns node]

$node($i) set X_ [expr $i * 50]

$node($i) set Y_ [expr $i * 20]

$node($i) set Z_ 0

}

# Mobility model

$node(0) setdest 100 100 5.0

$node(1) setdest 150 50 3.0

$node(2) setdest 200 100 4.0

# Define traffic sources

set udp [new Agent/UDP]

set null [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $node(0) $udp

$ns attach-agent $node(4) $null

$ns connect $udp $null

set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr attach-agent $udp

$cbr set packetSize_ 512

$cbr set rate_ 100Kb

# Proximity-based data sharing (custom logic can be added)

$ns at 1.0 “$cbr start”

$ns at 10.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exit 0

}

# Run simulation

$ns run

  1. Implement Location Awareness
  • Node Location:
    • Monitor the node location to utilise NS2 variables X_, Y_, and Z_.
    • Instance:

$node(0) set X_ 50

$node(0) set Y_ 50

  • Location-Based Actions:
    • Activate the events or routing decisions according to the proximity or certain geographical spaces.
    • For instance: If a node goes into a certain area then transmit a notification.
  1. Simulate LBS Protocols
  • Routing Protocols:
    • For location-based routing, we can utilise or change the existing routing protocols such as AODV, DSR, or GPSR (Geographic Perimeter Stateless Routing).
  • Geofencing:
    • Describe the virtual boundaries and replicate actions when nodes arrive or exit those limitations.
  1. Run the Simulation
  • We need to execute the simulation tcl script using NS2:

ns your_script.tcl

  • We can sort out the issues to utilise trace (trace.tr) files and animation (output.nam) files.
  1. Analyze Results
  • Trace File Analysis:
    • Examine the trace files for obtaining performance parameters such as packet delivery ratio, latency, and proximity-based events.
    • Make use of tools such as AWK or Python.
  • Visualization:
    • Envision the simulation outcomes with the support of Gnuplot, Python’s Matplotlib, or MATLAB tools.
  1. Enhance the System
  • Mobility Models:
    • Mimic realistic movement models like urban mobility patterns.
  • Energy Efficiency:
    • Execute the energy-aware position-based services for IoT devices.
  • Load Balancing:
    • Evenly deliver the traffic through the network for preventing blockages to balance the load.
  1. Research Topics in LBS
  • Proximity-Based Routing:
    • Prolong the protocols, which enhance the data delivery according to the node proximity.
  • Geofencing for IoT:
    • Mimic IoT systems including virtual boundaries in geofencing.
  • Real-Time Location Tracking:
    • Focus on the impacts of location modernizes on the network performance in real-time.
  • Energy-Efficient LBS:
    • Examine the effect of location updates on the battery life for power utilization.
  1. Example Use Cases
  • Smart Cities:
    • Replicate the public transportation systems, which adapts the paths depends on the vehicle locations.
  • Asset Tracking:
    • Monitor the moving assets within a logistics network.
  • Emergency Services:
    • During disasters mimic networks, which give precedence to interaction according to the location.

In this manual, we executed the simulation process of Location Based Services that are effectively replicated and analysed using NS2 environment. We will provide further details for extension of this topic as required.