The Role of Trace Modulation in Building Mobile
Computing Systems
M. Satyanarayanan and Brian Noble
ABSTRACT
In this paper we put forth the view that trace modulation is an
indispensable technique for building and evaluating mobile computing systems.
The essence of our solution is transparent, real-time, trace-driven emulation
of a target network. Although conceptually simple, trace modulation strikes
an attractive balance between the conflicting demands of realism, ease-of-use,
and reproducibility. It provides three important benefits. First, it allows
control of the complexity of the network environment to which mobile software
is exposed. Second, it enables mobile clients to be subjected to reproducible
yet realistic network performance. Third, it allows easy exploration of
a mobile system in the context of hypothetical mobility patterns and network
infrastructures. These benefits suggest that trace modulation will play
a central role in the development of future mobile computing systems.