314 research outputs found
An Efficient Uplink Multi-Connectivity Scheme for 5G mmWave Control Plane Applications
The millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies offer the potential of orders of
magnitude increases in capacity for next-generation cellular systems. However,
links in mmWave networks are susceptible to blockage and may suffer from rapid
variations in quality. Connectivity to multiple cells - at mmWave and/or
traditional frequencies - is considered essential for robust communication. One
of the challenges in supporting multi-connectivity in mmWaves is the
requirement for the network to track the direction of each link in addition to
its power and timing. To address this challenge, we implement a novel uplink
measurement system that, with the joint help of a local coordinator operating
in the legacy band, guarantees continuous monitoring of the channel propagation
conditions and allows for the design of efficient control plane applications,
including handover, beam tracking and initial access. We show that an
uplink-based multi-connectivity approach enables less consuming, better
performing, faster and more stable cell selection and scheduling decisions with
respect to a traditional downlink-based standalone scheme. Moreover, we argue
that the presented framework guarantees (i) efficient tracking of the user in
the presence of the channel dynamics expected at mmWaves, and (ii) fast
reaction to situations in which the primary propagation path is blocked or not
available.Comment: Submitted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Wireless
Communications (TWC
Improved Handover Through Dual Connectivity in 5G mmWave Mobile Networks
The millimeter wave (mmWave) bands offer the possibility of orders of
magnitude greater throughput for fifth generation (5G) cellular systems.
However, since mmWave signals are highly susceptible to blockage, channel
quality on any one mmWave link can be extremely intermittent. This paper
implements a novel dual connectivity protocol that enables mobile user
equipment (UE) devices to maintain physical layer connections to 4G and 5G
cells simultaneously. A novel uplink control signaling system combined with a
local coordinator enables rapid path switching in the event of failures on any
one link. This paper provides the first comprehensive end-to-end evaluation of
handover mechanisms in mmWave cellular systems. The simulation framework
includes detailed measurement-based channel models to realistically capture
spatial dynamics of blocking events, as well as the full details of MAC, RLC
and transport protocols. Compared to conventional handover mechanisms, the
study reveals significant benefits of the proposed method under several
metrics.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, to appear on the 2017 IEEE JSAC Special Issue
on Millimeter Wave Communications for Future Mobile Network
Channel Dynamics and SNR Tracking in Millimeter Wave Cellular Systems
The millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies are likely to play a significant
role in fifth-generation (5G) cellular systems. A key challenge in developing
systems in these bands is the potential for rapid channel dynamics: since
mmWave signals are blocked by many materials, small changes in the position or
orientation of the handset relative to objects in the environment can cause
large swings in the channel quality. This paper addresses the issue of tracking
the signal to noise ratio (SNR), which is an essential procedure for rate
prediction, handover and radio link failure detection. A simple method for
estimating the SNR from periodic synchronization signals is considered. The
method is then evaluated using real experiments in common blockage scenarios
combined with outdoor statistical models
Feasibility, Architecture and Cost Considerations of Using TVWS for Rural Internet Access in 5G
The cellular technology is mostly an urban technology that has been unable to serve rural areas well. This is because the traditional cellular models are not economical for areas with low user density and lesser revenues. In 5G cellular networks, the coverage dilemma is likely to remain the same, thus widening the rural-urban digital divide further. It is about time to identify the root cause that has hindered the rural technology growth and analyse the possible options in 5G architecture to address this issue. We advocate that it can only be accomplished in two phases by sequentially addressing economic viability followed by performance progression. We deliberate how various works in literature focus on the later stage of this ‘two-phase’ problem and are not feasible to implement in the first place. We propose the concept of TV band white space (TVWS) dovetailed with 5G infrastructure for rural coverage and show that it can yield cost-effectiveness from a service provider’s perspective
A Comprehensive Survey on Moving Networks
The unprecedented increase in the demand for mobile data, fuelled by new
emerging applications such as HD video streaming and heightened online
activities has caused massive strain on the existing cellular networks. As a
solution, the 5G technology has been introduced to improve network performance
through various innovative features such as mmWave spectrum and HetNets. In
essence, HetNets include several small cells underlaid within macro-cell to
serve densely populated regions. Recently, a mobile layer of HetNet has been
under consideration by the researchers and is often referred to as moving
networks. Moving networks comprise of mobile cells that are primarily
introduced to improve QoS for commuting users inside public transport because
the QoS is deteriorated due to vehicular penetration losses. Furthermore, the
users inside fast moving public transport also exert excessive load on the core
network due to large group handovers. To this end, mobile cells will play a
crucial role in reducing overall handover count and will help in alleviating
these problems by decoupling in-vehicle users from the core network.
To date, remarkable research results have been achieved by the research
community in addressing challenges linked to moving networks. However, to the
best of our knowledge, a discussion on moving networks in a holistic way is
missing in the current literature. To fill the gap, in this paper, we
comprehensively survey moving networks. We cover the technological aspects and
their applications in the futuristic applications. We also discuss the
use-cases and value additions that moving networks may bring to future cellular
architecture and identify the challenges associated with them. Based on the
identified challenges we discuss the future research directions.Comment: This survey has been submitted to IEEE Communications Surveys &
Tutorial
- …