Link Quality Assessment Algorithm for Heterogeneous Self-organizing Maritime Communications Network

Abstract

The article introduces a method of performing a radio link quality assessment based on the Link Quality Indicator (LQI) which will be calculated for every system that is available. The method presented has been developed during the netBaltic project completed in Poland and generally applies to the so-called maritime zone A, i.e. the sea area where ships are still within the range of shore-based radio communication systems, particularly 3G/LTE cellular networks. The algorithm was developed based on the results of measurements obtained during two separate campaigns. That measurement data served as a basis for the method’s initial assumptions and was utilized during the method’s verification.