Coursework Specification

Read this assessment brief carefully, it tells you how you are going to be assessed, how to submit your
assessment on-time and how (and when) you’ll receive your marks and feedback.

Module Code CSI_6_MOC

Module Title Mobile Computing
Lecturer Tasos Dagiuklas
% of Module
60%
Mark
Distributed 23/10/2024
Submission
Submit online via this Module’s Moodle site
Method
Submission
12/12/24 at 5:00pm *
Deadline
Release of
Feedback and provisional marks will be available in the
Feedback &
Gradebook on Moodle from 12/01/25
Marks
* Module leader will be available for any troubleshooting related to coursework submission up to the deadline time
however please submit well in advance in case you run into technical issues.
 Coursework Aim:
This coursework will assess your ability to use open-source 4G/5G experimental tools. By the end, you must
demonstrate the successful setup and diagnosis of a 5G network. The steps taken and the results obtained should be
compiled in a report.

FAQ

VERY IMPORTANT!!! READ BEFORE YOU START THE ASSIGNMENT!

Q: What is Free5GC?
A: Free5GC is an open-source project for 5th generation (5G) mobile core networks, as defined in 3GPP Release 15
(R15). As part of your coursework, you are expected to get familiarise yourself with this tool . For tutorials and
documentation, check out their website: https://www.free5gc.org/

Q: What is UERANSIM:
A: UERANSIM is the open source state-of-the-art 5G UE and RAN (gNodeB) simulator. UE and RAN can be
considered as a 5G mobile phone and a base station in basic terms. The project can be used for testing 5G Core Network
and studying 5G System such as Free 5GC and many others. In this coursework, you are expected to connect this
platform to the Free5GC core network. For guides and tutorials, check out their repository on Github:
https://github.com/aligungr/UERANSIM

Q: What is IPERF?
A: iPerf3 is a tool for active measurements of the maximum achievable bandwidth on IP networks. It supports tuning
of various parameters related to timing, buffers and protocols (TCP, UDP, SCTP with IPv4 and IPv6). For each test
it reports the bandwidth, loss, and other parameters. For your assignment you are expected to perform measurements
and share your findings in a written report. It is your duty to check the tutorials and the documentation on the
following websites:
• https://linux.die.net/man/1/iperf
• https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-uk/000139427/how-to-test-available-network-bandwidth-
using-iperf
• https://linuxhint.com/iperf_command_usage/

Q: What is NETEM:
A: Netem provides Network Emulation functionality for testing protocols by emulating the properties of wide area
networks. The current version emulates variable delay, loss, duplication and re-ordering. For your coursework, you
are expected to run a delay and packet loss scenario against the 5G Network setup (Free5GC+UERANSIM). It is
recommended to consult the following resources:
• https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/networking/netem
• https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/networking/netem#emulating_wide_area_network_delays
• https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/networking/netem#examples
Now that you have understood the tools required to fulfil this coursework the following are the tasks you
are required to perform.

Task 1: 5G Network Configuration and Diagnosis (60% weight)

Before you attempt this task make sure you download the two VMs required.

Using the two virtual machines (Free5GC and UERANSIM) provided to you as part resources for this course, you
are required to complete the following steps:

1. On the Free5GC Virtual Machine, you must adjust the IP of the AMF, SMF and UPF configuration file. Modify
the following file to ensure that your machine communicates with any external GNodeB. (The address can be
found from the ifconfig command). (8 marks):
• ~/free5gc/config/amfcfg.yaml
• ~/free5gc/config/smfcfg.yaml
• ~/free5gc/config/upfcfg.yaml
2. On the UERANSIM virtual machine, Configure UE and the RAN to communicate with the Free5GC based on the
configurations specified in step 1. You must configure UERANSIM parameters as explained in the following link
(8 marks): https://www.free5gc.org/installations/stage-3-sim-install/
3. It is your responsibility to ensure that both freeGC and UERANSIM are connected to ensure UE-Core network
connectivity. You can install the VMs either in the same PC (provided that your machine has enough resources to
install both freeGC and UERANSIM) or in two different physical machines. You must provide a justification on
your report about the selection (9 marks).
4. On UERANSIM and Free5GC virtual machine, using narratives and screenshots, demonstrate how you have
installed the server-side application for IPERF on the core network and the client-side application on your
UERANSIM. It is recommended to check the following link on how to use iperf
((https://linuxhint.com/iperf_command_usage/)(15 marks)
5. On UERANSIM, use your Web browser in the UERANSIM UE to get connected to Youtube. You must ensure
that the web browser is connected to the Internet via the right interface (uesimtun0). You must access to any video
(HD-High Definition) for all scenarios that are described in the next steps. (5 marks).
6. Describe the registration procedure of the phone. Justify your answer with at least three screenshots (5 marks).
7. You must use NETEM to consider the following different networking scenarios for the connectivity between UE
and the Internet, through the core network:
• Packet Loss: 5%, 15%. (4 marks)
• Delay: Pareto Distribution (4 marks)
• Random corruption at rate 10% (4 marks)
• Packet-reorder (30% of the packets will be sent immediately, the rest will get a delay following a normal
distribution with average 80ms) (4 marks)
• Packet duplication 15% (4 marks)
8. For each of the above scenario
• Determine throughput for each scenario define in step 6. Explain your findings (10 marks).
• Identify the scenarios from Step 6, that are related to mobile networks behavior. Justify your answer (8
marks)
• Identify the scenario that affects most video quality. Explain the artefacts that you have identified (12marks)

(The prerequisite topics to pursue this coursework are covered in Weeks 5-9 & FAQ section).

Task 2: Report (40%)

Write a comprehensive report that illustrates and elaborates the steps you followed in executing the tasks. The report
must be written as a manual, pointing each step you took progress the tasks. You must include screenshots (at least 4),
diagrams and configuration scripts to enhance your presentation. Include a bibliography section to refer any
information you used form external sources. References must follow IEEE standards. The following structure is
recommended for the report.
Type: Report
Word Count: As a guide, the report length must be between 3,000-3,800 words.

Structure of 1. Abstract (150 words)

your report: The final paper includes an abstract at the beginning of the paper that articulates the research
topic and provides a clear rationale for a specific experimentation.
2. Introduction (500-600 words)
A well- articulated introduction section that provides a clear, logical, and succinct description
which draws the reader’s attention to a central concern, debate, or contention. The section must
contain the following:
o Content discussed in the report
o The scope of the report by providing justification for what is covered and most
importantly, what is not covered on the topic.
o How the remainder of the paper is organized.
3. Experimentation Set-up (1000-1400 words)
This section provides a good description of the set-up of the testbed.
4. Performance Evaluation (1200-1500 words) with minimum 5 reference papers)
Analyse the results from user registration, user profile using programmable SIM card and
application set-up.
4. Conclusion (150 words)
How are marks The paper will be marked using the marking criteria provided in this coursework specification
awarded: document. All the students are advised to fully understand the marking criteria before starting
the coursework.
Presentation: Your report must include the student’s name and ID as an author in the appropriate section as
per template.
Work must be submitted as either a Word document (.doc/docx) or PDF.

Referencing: Please use the IEEE TRANSACTIONS and JOURNALS referencing style.

Regulations: Make sure you understand the University Regulations on expected academic practice and
academic misconduct. Note in particular:
Your work must be your own. Markers will be attentive to both the plausibility of the sources
provided as well as the consistency and approach to writing of the work. Simply, if you do the
research and reading, and then write it up on your own, giving the reference to sources, you will
approach the work in the appropriate way and will cause not give markers reason to question
the authenticity of the work.
All quotations must be credited and properly referenced. Paraphrasing is still regarded as
plagiarism if you fail to acknowledge the source for the ideas being expressed.

TURNITIN: When you upload your work to the Moodle site it will be checked by anti-
plagiarism software. Your similarity index for the review paper should not be more than 20%.
Any report with more than 20% similarity index will be subject to Academic Misconduct
Investigation.

In this module, students are permitted to use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT or Copilot, to
assist with technical reports. However, students must include the following in their technical
report:

• Acknowledgment of AI use.
• Details on the extent of use, and how the generated content was applied.
• Descriptions of the prompts and how AI-generated content was applied.

While AI can offer useful guidance, it tends to make errors and may not fully align with the
coursework requirements, potentially affecting marks. Students are encouraged to understand
the assignment thoroughly and work independently. AI can be used for suggestions and
refinement, but students must provide evidence of critical analysis.
The report will be evaluated based on the following criteria
1. Consistency and structure
2. Conciseness and completeness
3. Provide at least eight-ten screenshots from task-1
4. Critical analysis of the results
5. Professional styling and grammatical correctness
Learning Outcomes
This assessment will fully or partially assess the following learning outcomes for this module.
Learning outcome Assessed by
Coursework
A. Knowledge and Understanding
Understand the Wireless and Mobile Networking design.
Fully
Describe the wireless and mobile networking architecture and set-up. Fully

Demonstrate an understanding of 4G and 5G and their interworking with Fully

WLAN and IoT technologies
B. Intellectual Skills
Explain how wireless and mobile technologies can be used to support
use cases as defined 4G and 5G. Fully
Develop the knowledge necessary to identify and formalise a given Fully
technical problem using suitable techniques to design, develop and
deploy Wireless and Mobile networking solution.
C. Practical Skills
Wireless Network set-up Fully

Assess the performance of wireless network Fully

D. Transferable Skills
Research, analyse and critically evaluate the available knowledge to
investigate new and emerging technologies. Fully
Learn how to identify and solve the problems systematically using self- Partially
learning techniques

Assessment Criteria and Weighting

LSBU marking criteria have been developed to help tutors give you clear and helpful feedback on your work. They
will be applied to your work to help you understand what you have accomplished, how any mark given was arrived at,
and how you can improve your work in future.
CWK–Mobile Computing 2024-25

Rubric
8-10 6-7 4-5 0-3
Mobile-Core The network set-up is well-designed, The network set-up is reasonably The network set-up is limited. There The network set-up is poorly designed
Network/UE Set-up: sound criteria and appropriate method designed, good criteria and seems to be little or no effort to with lacks consistency and is generally
18% chosen. All aspects of the design appropriate method chosen. Some address comparison criteria. Lacks poorly documented.
considered with documentation. aspects of the design considered with detail with weak documentation.
good documentation.
End-to-End The experimental set-up is well- The experimental set-up is The experimental set-up is limited. The experimental set-up is poorly
Experimental Set- designed, sound criteria and reasonably designed, good criteria There seems to be little or no effort to designed with lacks consistency and is
up: 12% appropriate method chosen. All and appropriate method chosen. address comparison criteria. Lacks generally poorly documented.
aspects of the design considered with Some aspects of the design detail with weak documentation.
documentation. considered with good
documentation.
Analysis & Shows a thoughtful, in-depth An in-depth analysis of the Analysis is basic or general in Analysis is vague or not evident.
Findings: 30% analysis of the evaluation process evaluation process is given with nature. Reader gains few insights. Reader is confused or may be
and is reflective in nature. Reader limited attempt at misinformed.
gains important insights. reflections/lessons learned. Reader
gains important insights.
Report Structure Significantly increases audience Raises audience understanding and Raises audience understanding and Fails to increase audience
30% understanding and knowledge of awareness of most points; Includes knowledge of some points; Includes understanding or knowledge of
topic; Major ideas summarised and some data or evidence which very thin data or evidence in topic; Totally insufficient support
audience left with full understanding supports conclusions or ideas. support of ideas or conclusions; for ideas or conclusions. Major
of presenter's position. ideas left unclear.;
Formatting and Fully compatible with IEEE Follow mostly the IEEE template. Few errors on the template used and Lack of following IEEE template.
Professionalism templates. Professional and scientific Few errors on scientific styling, errors on scientific styling, Many errors on scientific styling.
10% language.