Joint Sparsity Pattern Learning Based Channel Estimation for Massive MIMO-OTFS Systems

We propose a channel estimation scheme based on joint sparsity pattern learning (JSPL) for massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) orthogonal time-frequency-space (OTFS) modulation aided systems. By exploiting the potential joint sparsity of the delay-Doppler-angle (DDA) domain channel, the channel estimation problem is transformed into a sparse recovery problem. To solve it, we first apply the spike and slab prior model to iteratively estimate the support set of the channel matrix, and a higher-accuracy parameter update rule relying on the identified support set is introduced into the iteration. Then the specific values of the channel elements corresponding to the support set are estimated by the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) method. Both our simulation results and analysis demonstrate that the proposed JSPL channel estimation scheme achieves an improved performance over the representative state-of-the-art baseline schemes, despite its reduced pilot overhead.

Energy Consumption Analysis for Continuous Phase Modulation in Smart-Grid Internet of Things of beyond 5G

Wireless sensor network (WSN) underpinning the smart-grid Internet of Things (SG-IoT) has been a popular research topic in recent years due to its great potential for enabling a wide range of important applications. However, the energy consumption (EC) characteristic of sensor nodes is a key factor that affects the operational performance (e.g., lifetime of sensors) and the total cost of ownership of WSNs. In this paper, to find the modulation techniques suitable for WSNs, we investigate the EC characteristic of continuous phase modulation (CPM), which is an attractive modulation scheme candidate for WSNs because of its constant envelope property. We first develop an EC model for the sensor nodes of WSNs by considering the circuits and a typical communication protocol that relies on automatic repeat request (ARQ)-based retransmissions to ensure successful data delivery. Then, we use this model to analyze the EC characteristic of CPM under various configurations of modulation parameters. Furthermore, we compare the EC characteristic of CPM with that of other representative modulation schemes, such as offset quadrature phase-shift keying (OQPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which are commonly used in communication protocols of WSNs. Our analysis and simulation results provide insights into the EC characteristics of multiple modulation schemes in the context of WSNs; thus, they are beneficial for designing energy-efficient SG-IoT in the beyond-5G (B5G) and the 6G era.

Channel Measurement, Modeling, and Simulation for 6G: A Survey and Tutorial

Technology research and standardization work of sixth generation (6G) has been carried out worldwide. Channel research is the prerequisite of 6G technology evaluation and optimization. This paper presents a survey and tutorial on channel measurement, modeling, and simulation for 6G. We first highlight the challenges of channel for 6G systems, including higher frequency band, extremely large antenna array, new technology combinations, and diverse application scenarios. A review of channel measurement and modeling for four possible 6G enabling technologies is then presented, i.e., terahertz communication, massive multiple-input multiple-output communication, joint communication and sensing, and reconfigurable intelligent surface. Finally, we introduce a 6G channel simulation platform and provide examples of its implementation. The goal of this paper is to help both professionals and non-professionals know the progress of 6G channel research, understand the 6G channel model, and use it for 6G simulation.

Lightweight Machine Learning for Digital Cross-Link Interference Cancellation with RF Chain Characteristics in Flexible Duplex MIMO Systems

The flexible duplex (FD) technique, including dynamic time-division duplex (D-TDD) and dynamic frequency-division duplex (D-FDD), is regarded as a promising solution to achieving a more flexible uplink/downlink transmission in 5G-Advanced or 6G mobile communication systems. However, it may introduce serious cross-link interference (CLI). For better mitigating the impact of CLI, we first present a more realistic base station (BS)-to-BS channel model incorporating the radio frequency (RF) chain characteristics, which exhibit a hardware-dependent nonlinear property, and hence the accuracy of conventional channel modelling is inadequate for CLI cancellation. Then, we propose a channel parameter estimation based polynomial CLI canceller and two machine learning (ML) based CLI cancellers that use the lightweight feedforward neural network (FNN). Our simulation results and analysis show that the ML based CLI cancellers achieve notable performance improvement and dramatic reduction of computational complexity, in comparison with the polynomial CLI canceller.

High-Performance Low-Complexity Hierarchical Frequency Synchronization for Distributed Massive MIMO-OFDMA Systems

We propose a high-performance yet low-complexity hierarchical frequency synchronization scheme for orthogonal frequency-division multiple-access (OFDMA) aided distributed massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems, where multi-ple carrier frequency offsets (CFOs) have to be estimated in the uplink. To solve this multi-CFO estimation problem efficiently, we classify the active antenna units (AAUs) as the master and the slaves. Then, we split the scheme into two stages. During the first stage the distributed slave AAUs are synchronized with the master AAU, while the user equipment (UE) is synchronized with the closest slave AAU during the second stage. The mean square error (MSE) performance of our scheme is better than that of the representative state-of-the-art baseline schemes, while its computational complexity is substantially lower.

5G PRS-Based Sensing: A Sensing Reference Signal Approach for Joint Sensing and Communication System

The emerging joint sensing and communication (JSC) technology is expected to support new applications and services, such as autonomous driving and extended reality (XR), in the future wireless communication systems. Pilot (or reference) signals in wireless communications usually have good passive detection performance, strong anti-noise capability and good auto-correlation characteristics, hence they bear the potential for applying in radar sensing. In this paper, we investigate how to apply the positioning reference signal (PRS) of the 5th generation (5G) mobile communications in radar sensing. This approach has the unique benefit of compatibility with the most advanced mobile communication system available so far. Thus, the PRS can be regarded as a sensing reference signal to simultaneously realize the functions of radar sensing, communication and positioning in a convenient manner. Firstly, we propose a PRS based radar sensing scheme and analyze its range and velocity estimation performance, based on which we propose a method that improves the accuracy of velocity estimation by using multiple frames. Furthermore, the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) of the range and velocity estimation for PRS based radar sensing and the CRLB of the range estimation for PRS based positioning are derived. Our analysis and simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of PRS over other pilot signals in radar sensing. Finally, some suggestions for the future 5G-Advanced and 6th generation (6G) frame structure design containing the sensing reference signal are derived based on our study.

Geo-Spatio-Temporal Information Based 3D Cooperative Positioning in LOS/NLOS Mixed Environments

We propose a geographic and spatio-temporal information based distributed cooperative positioning (GSTICP) algorithm for wireless networks that require three-dimensional (3D) coordinates and operate in the line-of-sight (LOS) and nonline-of-sight (NLOS) mixed environments. First, a factor graph (FG) is created by factorizing the a posteriori distribution of the position-vector estimates and mapping the spatial-domain and temporal-domain operations of nodes onto the FG. Then, we exploit a geographic information based NLOS identification scheme to reduce the performance degradation caused by NLOS measurements. Furthermore, we utilize a finite symmetric sampling based scaled unscented transform (SUT) method to approximate the nonlinear terms of the messages passing on the FG with high precision, despite using only a small number of samples. Finally, we propose an enhanced anchor upgrading (EAU) mechanism to avoid redundant iterations. Our GSTICP algorithm supports any type of ranging measurement that can determine the distance between nodes. Simulation results and analysis demonstrate that our GSTICP has a lower computational complexity than the state-of-the-art belief propagation (BP) based localizers, while achieving an even more competitive positioning performance.

Distributed Spatio-Temporal Information Based Cooperative 3D Positioning in GNSS-Denied Environments

A distributed spatio-temporal information based cooperative positioning (STICP) algorithm is proposed for wireless networks that require three-dimensional (3D) coordinates and operate in the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) denied environments. Our algorithm supports any type of ranging measurements that can determine the distance between nodes. We first utilize a finite symmetric sampling based scaled unscented transform (SUT) method for approximating the nonlinear terms of the messages passing on the associated factor graph (FG) with high precision, despite relying on a small number of samples. Then, we propose an enhanced anchor upgrading mechanism to avoid any redundant iterations. Our simulation results and analysis show that the proposed STICP has a lower computational complexity than the state-of-the-art belief propagation based localizer, despite achieving an even more competitive positioning performance.