Is system-level simulation with beamforming supported when using the Communications Toolbox support package for wireless network simulation in R2023a?

Dear all,

I am writing as I recently discovered the new Communications Toolbox support package for wireless network simulation, which is a very useful addition to MATLAB as it supports system-level simulations with IEEE 802.11ax.

I am currenty exploring the example available here, with OFDMA: https://it.mathworks.com/help/wlan/ug/802-11ax-downlink-ofdma-multinode-system-level-simulation.html

While looking at the code and running it locally, I was wondering whether an easy way to configure a beamforming model for the channel exists. I saw this example: https://it.mathworks.com/help/wlan/ug/802-11ax-downlink-ofdma-and-multi-user-mimo-throughput-simulation.html

However, it is not making use of the support package, and it appears to be much more low-level that what I would need.

Are you aware of a way to include beamforming in an IEEE 802.11ax OFDMA simulation, while keeping at the same time a system-level simulation with the support package?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Answer 1

[Manikanta Aditya]

Hi Francesco,

As per my understanding, you are interested to know if the system level simulation with beamforming supported with using the Communications Toolbox support package for Wireless Network Simulation in MATLAB R2023a.

There is no exact example on the beamforming in an IEEE 802.11ax OFDMA simulation using the Communications Toolbox support package, there are some resources that might be helpful.

The below example, shows the NR Cell Performance Evaluation with Beam Management in the 5G Toolbox, System Level Simulation:

• NR Cell Performance Evaluation with Beam Management: https://www.mathworks.com/help/5g/ug/nr-cell-performance-evaluation-with-beam-management.html

The below example shows how to simulate a WLAN multinode uplink (UL) orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) network consisting of an IEEE 802.11ax access point (AP) and four stations (STAs) by using WLAN Toolbox and the Communications Toolbox Wireless Network Simulation Library.

Although this example does not directly include beamforming, it might provide some insights on how to incorporate it.

• 802.11ax Uplink OFDMA Multinode System-Level Simulation: https://www.mathworks.com/help/wlan/ug/802-11ax-uplink-ofdma-multinode-system-level-simulation.html

The below example, although not directly related to 802.11ax or OFDMA, provides a detailed walkthrough of how to configure a beamforming model for the channel.

• 802.11ad Waveform Generation with Beamforming: https://www.mathworks.com/help/wlan/ug/802-11ad-waveform-generation-with- beamforming.html

I hope this resolves the issue you were facing.