ELEC 9782:

Mobile Applications and

Network Performance
Kanchana Thilakarathna
7 March 2016

www.data61.csiro.au
How are we?

Kanchana Thilakarathna Suranga Seneviratne

Researcher, DATA61, CSIRO Researcher, DATA61, CSIRO
Conjoint Lecturer, CSE, UNSW E: Conjoint Lecturer, CSE, UNSW E:

kanchana.thilakarathna@nicta.com.au suranga.seneviratne@nicta.com.au
T: +61 2 9376 2131 T: +61 2 9376 2018
Level 5, 13 Garden Street, Eveleigh, Level 5, 13 Garden Street, Eveleigh,
NSW 2015 NSW 2015

2 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Today’s outline

• Course logistics

• Motivation: why this course ?

• Syllabus

• Today’s topic: Anatomy of mobile networks

3 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

 Course Logistics

4 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Welcome to ELEC 9782

• Timings: Thursdays 6:00pm to 9:00pm for weeks 1-13.

• Location: Electrical Eng G24 (K-G17-G24).
• Conveners:
I Kanchana Thilakarathna
Researcher, DATA61 — CSIRO
Conjoint Lecturer, CSE — UNSW
E: kanchana.thilakarathna@nicta.com.au
T: +61 2 9376 2131
I Suranga Seneviratne
Researcher, DATA61 — CSIRO
Conjoint Lecturer, CSE — UNSW
E: suranga.seneviratne@nicta.com.au
T: +61 2 9376 2018

5 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Course structure
• Credits: 6 UoC - 10-12 hours of workload per week.
• Pre-requisites:
I Comfortable with a high level programming language, e.g.
JAVA will be used during the class.
I External resources to improve background knowledge:
– https://itunes.apple.com/us/course/
introduction-to-java/id551000192
– https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/
introduction-to-programming/id548675644
– https://www.udemy.com/java-tutorial/
• Course Website:
I Moodle ELEC9782 -
https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/login/index.php
I Please check course website regularly.
• Group mailing list:
I ELEC9782@ee.unsw.edu.au

6 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Course Structure
• Delivery mode:
I Lectures every week. You will have time to practically test
most of the concepts during the class.
I Encouraged to bring a Laptop computer and an Android
smartphone (if available) to the class.
I In-class tutorials (not graded) in weeks 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11.
– Opportunity to play with real devices.
• No mid-session exam
• Grading:
I Assignments - 30%
I Research report and presentation (group activity) - 10%
I Mini project (group activity) - 30%
I Final Exam (2 hours) - 30%
– End of semester
– Open book

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Assignments

• 3 Assignments for the course.

• Assignments will made available:
I Week 2, Week 5 and Week 8
• Assignments will be due after two weeks of release.
• Assignment questions will be discussed in the class after the
due date.
• 10% of final mark per assignment.
• Each assignment contains tutorial type questions and
programming exercises.
• Late submissions will incur 10% penalty per each day.

8 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Research report and presentations
To provide a flavour of state-of-the-art research activities and
future networking concepts.
• Group activity
I Maximum group size is 4
• Research articles will made available in Week 2.
• Each group needs to pick an article of their choice.
I Articles will be assigned to each group at the class in Week 2.
I Group selection and article selection are due by Week 3.
• Each group will do a presentation to the class on Week 7.
• Research report is also due in Week 7.
• 10% of final mark for both the research report and
presentation.

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Group project
To build something real.
• Group activity
I Maximum group size is 4
• 30% of final mark.
I 5% for the project proposal - due in Week 5.
I 5% for the progress presentation - due in Week 9.
I 20% for the final demo - due in Week 12.
• Start thinking now.
• Try to relate the project to a real problem that you have.
• We will celebrate the success on the Demo Day !

Best demo will be selected and rewarded !

10 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

 Any questions about Course Logistics ?

Why this course ?

Mobile Applications and Network Performance

11 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Mobile devices are everywhere !

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Ever increasing capabilities of
mobiles

Smartphones are becoming general purpose computers.

Huge potential is out there
We need to uncover the true potential

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How to uncover the true
potential

Mobile
Programming

Mobile Application
Development

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Background doesn’t matter

• Does computer programming is limited to Computer Science

students ?

Mobile computing is becoming a commodity

• It doesn’t matter where you are coming from.

• Examples:
I For your final year thesis project.
I To improve your productivity.
I Improve your chances of getting a job.
I As a hobby.
I Just for FUN !

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At the end of the course

• Overview of mobile telecommunication systems.

• Thorough knowledge of mobile app based eco-system.
• Impact of mobile apps on the performance of the network.
• Flavour of state-of-the-art research activities on mobile
systems.
• Hands on experience in developing efficient mobile apps.
• You will be able to develop your own mobile app
• May be you will be able to publish it in the app store.

As Electrical Engineers - We always care about the Network

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What this course does not cover

• Not a Software Engineering course.

• Will not cover
I Fancy UI design.

• This course is about:

I Network-aware mobile application development for
everybody

17 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

 Questions ?

Syllabus
Mobile Applications and Network Performance

18 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Syllabus
Major topics
• Anatomy of mobile networks
I Cellular networks (3G/4G/LTE), WLAN networks, personal
area networks, etc.
• Introduction to smartphone eco-systems
I Mobile app eco-system
I Current landscape of cellular networks and app interactions
• Factors governing the performance, operation, and
security of mobile apps
I Bandwidth usage, Energy consumption, Privacy and Security.
• Mobile applications development essentials and
advanced concepts
I Permissions/ Activities/ Services/ Layouts/ Intents/ Broadcast
Receivers etc.
I Notifications/Databases/Other resources: Camera, Location,
and Sensor data collection etc.

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Syllabus
Major topics

• Network communications and performance

I Networking permissions/Background Tasks/Periodic
communications/Web browsing and WebViews etc.
I Local communications: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Multicast, Device to
Device communication
• Smartphone as a network performance-measuring tools
I A case study of a network measurement application and
concepts
• Use and implications of other smart devices
I Overview of iOS devices, Wearables and some example IOT
devices

20 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

 Today’s Topic

Anatomy of mobile networks

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Mobile Data Traffic Domination

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Wireless Networking Interfaces

Cellular Network Interface

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Wireless Networking Interfaces

Cellular Network Interface

WiFi (WLAN)

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Wireless Networking Interfaces

Cellular Network Interface

WiFi (WLAN)

Near Field
Communication

Bluetooth

WiFi-Direct
AirDrop

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Wireless Networking Interfaces
Wide Area Networks

Cellular Network Interface

Local Area Networks

WiFi (WLAN)

Near Field
Communication

Bluetooth

WiFi-Direct
AirDrop
Personal Area Networks

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Wide Area Networks
Cellular Networks

Source: GSMA Intelligence

Cellular networking standards are governed by global organizations such
as 3GPP: Third Generation Partnership Project 1 involving thousands of
people.
1
http://www.3gpp.org
27 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna
Cellular Network Evolution
2G mobile technologies
• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
I GSM is originally designed for voice.
I Introduced SIM (Subscriber Identity Module).
I Mass adoption of mobile phones started with GSM. Even
today GSM is the leading mobile communication technology.

Source: GSMA Intelligence

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Cellular Network Evolution
2G mobile technologies

• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

I 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands.
I Frequency Division and Time Division Multiple Access
(FDMA/TDMA) mechanism.
I 2.5G extension: GRPS (General Packet Radio Services) and
EDGE (Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution) for Data.
I Data rates were limited - struggled to support the demand
for Internet/email.

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Cellular Network Evolution
3G mobile technologies

Source: 3GPP
• Two main variants of 3G technologies
I UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service)
I CDMA2000
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Cellular Network Evolution
3G mobile technologies

• UMTS
I W-CDMA, TD-CDMA, and TD-SCDMA (China)
I HSDPA,HSPA, HSPA+ are Data specific releases.
I HSPA+ provides data rates up to 56Mbits/s
• CDMA2000
I In North America and South Korea
I EVDO are Data specific releases.
I EVDO Rev B provides data rates up to 14.7Mbits/s
• Frequency bands
I 850, 900, 1900, 2100MHz
• Failure of WAP for Internet access
• Tied to mobile specific architectures and protocols.

31 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Cellular Network Evolution
4G mobile technologies

All-IP services including voice and messaging

• LTE Advanced: 3GPP Long Term Evolution

I Downlink data rates up to 300Mbits/s and uplink data
75Mbit/s
I E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access
– High Speed OFDM Packet Access
I Similar frequency bands as 3G.

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Cellular Network Architecture

PSTN

Base
Station BSC MSC

SGSN GGSN
NodeB Internet
RNC

MNE
eNodeB
P-GW
Radio Access
S-GW
Network
Access Network Core Network

33 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Frequency spectrum allocation
It is complicated !

Australian radiofrequency
The spectrum is a continuous range of of its use depends on coordination among The ITU nomenclature for these Each of these bands is divided into sub-bands
electromagnetic radiation extending from the
longest radio waves through infra-red, light,
users in order to minimise interference to
each other.
bands is as follows:
VLF Very Low Frequency 3-30 kHz
which are allocated to particular services such
as land mobile radio, broadcasting, aeronautical,
Australian Government
ultra-violet and X-rays to This chart illustrates how the radio-frequency maritime or space services — shown in the
LF Low Frequency 30-300 kHz

spectrum allocations chart Australian Communications

gamma-rays. spectrum is allocated among services in Australia. chart by different colours.
The radiofrequency spectrum is that part It is derived from the Australian Radiofrequency MF Medium Frequency 300-3000 kHz The chart is designed for quick reference. For
of the total spectrum which is used for Spectrum Plan (January 2005), which in turn is HF High Frequency 3-30 MHz details of frequency allocations, reference should
transmitting radio waves.
The radiofrequency spectrum is a natural
based on the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) Radio Regulations.
VHF
UHF
Very High Frequency
Ultra-High Frequency
30-300 MHz
300-3000 MHz
be made to the Australian Radiofrequency
Spectrum Plan (January 2005), since fine details and Media Authority
resource that is used but not consumed. It is The radiofrequency spectrum is divided into SHF Super-High Frequency 3-30 GHz and footnotes cannot be shown on this chart.
used by being occupied and the efficiency several broad frequency bands for reference. © Australian Communications Authority 2008
EHF Extremely-High Frequency 30-300 GHz

Legend ➤ •

➤
➤

AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AMATEUR BROADCASTING EARTH FIXED INTER-SATELLITE LAND MOBILE MARITIME MARITIME METEOROLOGICAL METEOROLOGICAL MOBILE RADIO RADIOLOCATION RADIONAVIGATION SPACE OPERATION SPACE RESEARCH STANDARD NOT ALLOCATED SECONDARY SATELLITE SATELLITE SATELLITE EXCEPT
MOBILE RADIONAVIGATION EXPLORATION MOBILE RADIONAVIGATION AIDS SATELLITE ASTRONOMY FREQUENCY AND SERVICE (EARTH TO SPACE) (SPACE TO EARTH) (SPACE TO SPACE) AERONAUTICAL
SATELLITE TIME SIGNAL MOBILE

19.95
20.05
14
9
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3 kHz 30 kHz

117.6
110
112

126

129
130

160

190

200

285
70
72

84

86

90
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30 kHz 500 kHz international radiotelegraph 2182 kHz international radiotelephone 300 kHz
distress and calling frequency 160 metre amateur band distress and calling frequency

1 606.5

2 173.5
2 190.5
1 800

1 825

1 875

1 925

1 975

2 000

2 065

2 107

2 170

2 194

2 300

2 495
2 501
2 502
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2 850
526.5
315
325

405
415

495
505

535

MF MF

•
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300 kHz (1) Citizen band radio service 3000 kHz
80 metre amateur band ISM 40 metre amateur band 30 metre amateur band ISM 20 metre amateur band 17 metre amateur band 15 metre amateur band 12 metre amateur band 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz 10 metre amateur band
(2) ISM

10 003
10 005
10 100
10 150

11 175
11 275
11 400
11 600
11 650

12 050
12 100
12 230

13 200
13 260
13 360
13 410
13 570
13 600
13 800
13 870
14 000
14 250
14 350

14 990
15 005
15 010
15 100

15 600
15 800

16 360

17 410
17 480
17 550

17 900
17 970
18 030
18 052
18 068
18 168

18 780
18 900
19 020

19 680
19 800
19 990
19 995
20 010

21 000

21 450

21 850
21 870
21 924
22 000

22 855
23 000
23 200
23 350

24 000

24 890
24 990
25 005
25 010
25 070
25 210
25 550
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26 100
26 175

27 500

28 000

29 700
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155
200
230
400
500
700
776
800
900
950
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438
650
700
750
850
995
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060
250
450
480
680
730
900
950
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525
685
765
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300
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8 100
8 195

8 815
8 965
9 040

9 400
9 500

9 900
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3
3
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3
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3
3
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3
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4
4
4
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5
5
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156.7625
156.8375
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137.025
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143.65

150.05
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41.0
42.0
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87.5

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136
137

138

144
146
148

153

174

225

230

235

267

272
273
44
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50
52
54
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70

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30 MHz Citizen band radio service 300 MHz
476.425 MHz to 477.400 MHz Cellular mobile telephone service ISM
ISM

1 610.6
1 613.8
1 626.5

1 660.5

1 668.4

2 483.5
400.05
400.15

1 164

1 215

1 240
1 260

1 300

1 350

1 400

1 427
1 429
1 452

1 492
1 518
1 525
1 530
1 533
1 535

1 559

1 610

1 660

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1 670
1 675
1 690
1 700
1 710

1 930

1 970
1 980
2 010
2 025

2 110
2 120

2 160
2 170

2 200

2 290
2 300

2 450

2 500
2 520
2 535

2 655
2 670
2 690
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2 900
328.6
335.4

399.9

406.1
312
315
322

387
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402
403
406

410
420
430
432
438
440
450
460
470

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820

850

890

915
928
942

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300 MHz 3000 MHz

ISM ISM
14.7145

15.1365
3 100
3 300
3 400
3 600

4 200
4 400
4 500
4 800
990
000
010
030
150
250
255
350
460
470
570
650
725
830
850
925
700
075
145
235
250
375
450
550
750
850
900
975
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175
215
400
500
550
650
750
850
000
200
300
500
9 800

10.45

10.55

10.68

12.75

13.25

13.75

14.47

15.35

15.43
15.63

22.21

22.55

23.55

24.05
24.25

24.45

24.65
24.75

25.25
10.5

10.6

10.7

11.7

12.2

12.5

13.4

14.3
14.4

14.5

14.8

15.4

15.7

16.6

17.1
17.2
17.3

17.7

18.1

18.4
18.6
18.8

19.3

19.7

20.1
20.2

21.2
21.4

22.5

23.6

25.5

27.5

28.5

29.1

29.5

29.9
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14

22

24

27
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5
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6
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ISM ISM ISM
114.25

119.98

122.25
54.25
55.78

109.5

111.8

148.5

151.5

155.5

158.5

174.5
174.8

191.8

231.5
31.3
31.5
31.8

32.3

33.4
34.2
34.7
35.2
35.5

37.5

39.5
➤ 40.5

42.5
43.5

47.2
50.2
50.4
51.4
52.6

56.9

58.2

59.3

77.5

94.1

100
102

105

116

123

130

134

136

141

164

167

182

185

190

200
202

209

217

226

232

235

238
240
241

248
250
252

265

275
31

32

33

36
37

38

40

41

47

57

59

64
65
66

71

74

76

78
79

81

84

86

92

94

95

EHF EHF
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30 GHz 300 GHz

• Licensed band - Cellular networks

• Unlicensed band - WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, microwave, etc.
34 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna
Wireless Local Area Networks
WLAN - WiFi
• WiFi hotspots are everywhere !
I In Australia - Telstra, Manly Ferry, Westfield, etc.
I 433 million hotspots worldwide by 2020.

35 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Wireless Local Area Networks
WLAN - WiFi
Local
Network Internet

WiFi Access Point Content

(Wireless Router) Provider

Minimum Lower Cheap alterna8ve to

Infrastructure deployment cost cellular networks

• Current smartphones select

WiFi over Cellular for data
access by default.
• 55% of global traffic will be
o✏oaded to WiFi by 2020.

36 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Wireless Local Area Networks
WLAN - WiFi

• IEEE 802.11 Standards2

I First version is released in 1997.
I CSIRO one of the key patents in Wi-Fi (often called invented
at CSIRO).
I Wi-Fi Alliance (non-profit) formed in 1999.
I Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical layer
specifications.
– CSMA/CA - carrier sense multiple access with collision
avoidance (recall: Ethernet use CSMA/CD)
I Does not support global mobility
– 5G heterogenous networking supports seamless integration
with WiFi hotsposts.

2
http://www.ieee802.org/11/
37 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna
WiFi Frequencies
• ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) frequencies.
I 2.4GHz Band
– IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
– Range ⇡70m
– 11/14 channels (overlapping)
– Very crowded frequency band - may su↵er interference from
Bluetooth, microwave oven, etc.
I 5.8GHz Band
– IEEE 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11ac
– Range lower than 2.4GHz ⇡35m
– 23 channels (non overlapping)

38 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

IEEE 802.11 Variants

• Most of the smartphones supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

IEEE Released Frequency Bandwidth Max Range (m)

802.11 date band (MHz) Speed
(GHz) (Mbits/s)
a 1999/2012 2.4/5.8 20 54 35

b 2000 2.4 22 11 35

g 2003 2.4 20 54 38

n 2009 2.4/5.8 20/40 72/150 70

ac 2013 5.8 20/40/80/ 96/200/43 35

160 3/866

39 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

WiFi networking basics

• Authentication
I WEP - not secure anymore !
I WPA/WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access)
– Use AES encryption
– Enterprise networks - WPA2 along with
RADIUS authentication server

40 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Wireless Personal Area Networks
Bluetooth

Shorter Low Low

Range Power Cost

Bluetooth Wireless Personal Area Network

• IEEE 802.15.1 - now maintained by Bluetooth SIG3

• ISM band - 2.4GHz
• Latest version - Bluetooth v4.1
• Data rates up to 4Mbps.
3
https://www.bluetooth.com
41 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna
Bluetooth pairing
• Bluetooth device in discoverable mode transmits the following
info on demand:
I Device name, Device class, List of services, Some Technical
information (e.g: device features, manufacturer, Bluetooth
specification)
• Traditional pairing:
I Needs user interaction.
I If not, PINs are hardcoded in the device.
• Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)
I Since Bluetooth v2.1
I Works without user interaction.
I Use other technologies such as NFC to bootstrap the
authentication.
I Established a shared secret key and if both device store the
same key, they are paired after that.

42 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Bluetooth networking basics

• Infrastructure-less network !
self-organized
• Time Division Multiple (TDM) access
with random channel hopping - 625µs
Parked
timeslot.
Slave
• 40 channels with 37 data channels and 3 Slave
advertising channels.
Master
• Master - Salve approach
Slave Slave
I Up to 8 slave devices
I Up to 255 parked devices (not actively Slave
transmit data) Bluetooth Piconet
I Master transmits in even slots and
receives in odd slots

43 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Bluetooth networking basics

• Bluetooth state machine

I Standby: Does not transmit or receive
any packets. Scanning
I Advertising: Transmitting advertising
channel packets and listing to responses.
I Scanning: Listing to advertising
packets from others. Advertising Standby Initiating
I Initiating: Listing to advertising
packets from a specific device.
I Connetion: Two roles are defined.
– Master: When entering from Connection
Initiating state.
– Slave: When entering from
Advertising state.

44 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Wireless Personal Area Networks
Near Field Communication (NFC)

• Range ⇡4cm of each

other.
• ISM band - 13.56MHz
• Data rates ⇡106 to 424
kbits/s.
• Multiple standardization
organizations: ISO/IEC,
GSMA, NFC Foruma
• Passive NFC tags:
credit/debit card, loyalty
cards, etc.
a
http://nfc-forum.org

45 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Wireless Personal Area Networks
WiFi Variants

• Use WiFi networking interface: Range and Data rates are

similar to WiFi.
• WiFi-Direct
I Activates Software AP within the device.
I Specifications are administered by WiFi Alliance4
• AirDrop by Apple
• WiFi-Tethering (Mobile Hotspot)
I Some network operators block WiFi-Tethering

4
http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-direct
46 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna
Pervasive heterogenous network
availability
Wide Area Networks

Cellular Network Interface

Local Area Networks

WiFi (WLAN)

Near Field
Communication

Bluetooth

WiFi-Direct
AirDrop
Personal Area Networks

We are in a Jungle of networks

47 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

Which interface ?
Factors to consider
• Range
I Location of the end hosts
I Mobility
• Cost
I For the network operator
I For the consumer
• Speed
I Real time or delay-tollerant
I User expectations
• Privacy and Security
I Public content or personal data
I Location of the end hosts
• Energy
I Smartphone energy consumption

48 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna

 Questions ?

Rest of the course will guide you along the right path

See you all next week !

49 | ELEC 9782: Mobile Applications and Network Performance | Kanchana Thilakarathna