arXiv subjects

Victor S. Frost

Publications and source records attributed to Victor S. Frost.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Vertical Look at UAV Connectivity in the Wild: Cellular vs. Starlink, 3D Characterization, and Performance Prediction

In this paper, we present an open-source measurement platform designed to characterize the performance of commercial cellular (Verizon, a major US provider) and LEO satellite (Starlink) networks through real-world flight tests in rural environments. We implement a comprehensive multi-layer measurement approach spanning physical layer signal metrics, multi-cell network topology, and end-to-end (E2E) application performance. Through an extensive flight campaign with more than $10$ flight tests, $4.5$+ hours of flight time resulting in more than $18$K samples, we present the first detailed, open-source dataset analyzing dual cellular and Starlink performance for low-altitude UAV operations. Our cellular-Starlink comparative results, which are collected \emph{simultaneously at the same time and location}, demonstrate significant performance differences between the two technologies: the LEO satellite link achieves superior latency performance with $95\%$ of Round-Trip Time (RTT) measurements below $50$ ms compared to $80\%$ under $150$ ms for cellular, and exceptional downlink capacity with $95\%$ exceeding $25$ Mbps versus only $5$ Mbps for cellular. Our analysis on cellular network performance demonstrates that while higher altitudes (e.g., $330+$ m above the sea level) improve signal power by $15-20$ dB via line-of-sight (LOS) propagation, it causes a $3-4$ $\times$ increase in handover rates, which is due to excessive multi-cell visibility rather than signal degradation. Furthermore, we observe asymmetric impacts on the RTT performance due to handovers such that $53.5$\% of handovers improve RTT, but worst-case degradation ($275$ ms) is $2$ $\times$ larger than best-case improvement ($137$ ms).

cs.NI↗

arXiv2025

A Versatile and Programmable UAV Platform for Radio Access Network and End-to-End Cellular Measurements

In this work, we develop a measurement platform to capture mobile network performance metrics including coverage and quality of service in regions where conventional coverage testing approaches are frequently time-intensive, labor-demanding, and occasionally hazardous. Traditionally, crowd-sourcing methods are used to collect cellular network performance metrics. However, these approaches are inadequate in rural areas due to low-density population, and difficult terrain. The platform described here is a UAV-based and is designed to investigate the mobile network performance through aerial operations and gather Radio Access Network (RAN) signal alongside end-to-end network performance metrics. Our platform gathers metrics through the integration of an onboard computation unit and commercial off-the-shelf cellular modem. The gathered data are subsequently analyzed and displayed using geospatial mapping utilities and statistical techniques to deliver key observations on cellular network performance. Experimental results showed that the received signal power improves at higher altitudes due to enhanced line-of-sight (LoS) conditions as expected. However, the signal quality degrades as a result of increased interference from neighboring cells. The analysis reveals that for most of the geographic area covered in the initial experiments the system maintained acceptable signal quality, with adequate throughput performance for both uplink and downlink communications, while maintaining satisfactory round-trip time characteristics. Notably, the experiment showed that a strong radio signal metric for a given cell does not necessarily translate to consistent spatial coverage across the tested region.

cs.NI↗

arXiv2014

A Covert Channel Using Named Resources

A network covert channel is created that uses resource names such as addresses to convey information, and that approximates typical user behavior in order to blend in with its environment. The channel correlates available resource names with a user defined code-space, and transmits its covert message by selectively accessing resources associated with the message codes. In this paper we focus on an implementation of the channel using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) as the message names, though the system can be used in conjunction with a variety of protocols. The covert channel does not modify expected protocol structure as might be detected by simple inspection, and our HTTP implementation emulates transaction level web user behavior in order to avoid detection by statistical or behavioral analysis.

cs.CR↗

arXiv1999

Network Management of Predictive Mobile Networks

There is a trend toward the use of predictive systems in communications networks. At the systems and network management level predictive capabilities are focused on anticipating network faults and performance degradation. Simultaneously, mobile communication networks are being developed with predictive location and tracking mechanisms. The interactions and synergies between these systems present a new set of problems. A new predictive network management framework is developed and examined. The interaction between a predictive mobile network and the proposed network management system is discussed. The Rapidly Deployable Radio Network is used as a specific example to illustrate these interactions.

cs.NI↗