Simulators, Emulators, and Visualization Tools for Analysis of Integrated Machine-Type Communication and Satellite Networks

Analyzing highly dynamic, potentially massive-scale integrated satellite and machine-type communication (MTC) networks can be challenging. In this chapter, we survey the potential tools that could be used for analyzing the end-to-end performance of such integrated MTC and satellite networks. The tools include simulators and emulators but also visualization tools. In the simulators, we concentrate more on the system-level simulators rather than link-level simulators. Constellation design and orbit simulations are essential for satellite networks, so we also study tools for those purposes. An example simulation process is described using the Satellite Constellation Network Emulator simulator that integrates the commercial Systems Tool Kit orbital simulator with the open-source ns-3 network simulator.