3,494 research outputs found
Millimeter Wave Cellular Networks: A MAC Layer Perspective
The millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band is seen as a key enabler of
multi-gigabit wireless access in future cellular networks. In order to overcome
the propagation challenges, mmWave systems use a large number of antenna
elements both at the base station and at the user equipment, which lead to high
directivity gains, fully-directional communications, and possible noise-limited
operations. The fundamental differences between mmWave networks and traditional
ones challenge the classical design constraints, objectives, and available
degrees of freedom. This paper addresses the implications that highly
directional communication has on the design of an efficient medium access
control (MAC) layer. The paper discusses key MAC layer issues, such as
synchronization, random access, handover, channelization, interference
management, scheduling, and association. The paper provides an integrated view
on MAC layer issues for cellular networks, identifies new challenges and
tradeoffs, and provides novel insights and solution approaches.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, to appear in IEEE Transactions on
Communication
Temporal and spatial combining for 5G mmWave small cells
This chapter proposes the combination of temporal processing through Rake combining based on direct sequence-spread spectrum (DS-SS), and multiple antenna beamforming or antenna spatial diversity as a possible physical layer access technique for fifth generation (5G) small cell base stations (SBS) operating in the millimetre wave (mmWave) frequencies. Unlike earlier works in the literature aimed at previous generation wireless, the use of the beamforming is presented as operating in the radio frequency (RF) domain, rather than the baseband domain, to minimise power expenditure as a more suitable method for 5G small cells. Some potential limitations associated with massive multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) for small cells are discussed relating to the likely limitation on available antennas and resultant beamwidth. Rather than relying, solely, on expensive and potentially power hungry massive MIMO (which in the case of a SBS for indoor use will be limited by a physically small form factor) the use of a limited number of antennas, complimented with Rake combining, or antenna diversity is given consideration for short distance indoor communications for both the SBS) and user equipment (UE). The proposal’s aim is twofold: to solve eroded path loss due to the effective antenna aperture reduction and to satisfy sensitivity to blockages and multipath dispersion in indoor, small coverage area base stations. Two candidate architectures are proposed. With higher data rates, more rigorous analysis of circuit power and its effect on energy efficiency (EE) is provided. A detailed investigation is provided into the likely design and signal processing requirements. Finally, the proposed architectures are compared to current fourth generation long term evolution (LTE) MIMO technologies for their anticipated power consumption and EE
MAC-Oriented Programmable Terahertz PHY via Graphene-based Yagi-Uda Antennas
Graphene is enabling a plethora of applications in a wide range of fields due
to its unique electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. In the realm of
wireless communications, graphene shows great promise for the implementation of
miniaturized and tunable antennas in the terahertz band. These unique
advantages open the door to new reconfigurable antenna structures which, in
turn, enable novel communication protocols at different levels of the stack.
This paper explores both aspects by, first, presenting a terahertz
Yagi-Uda-like antenna concept that achieves reconfiguration both in frequency
and beam direction simultaneously. Then, a programmable antenna controller
design is proposed to expose the reconfigurability to the PHY and MAC layers,
and several examples of its applicability are given. The performance and cost
of the proposed scheme is evaluated through full-wave simulations and
comparative analysis, demonstrating reconfigurability at nanosecond granularity
with overheads below 0.02 mm and 0.2 mW.Comment: Accepted for presentation in IEEE WCNC '1
Connectivity of confined 3D Networks with Anisotropically Radiating Nodes
Nodes in ad hoc networks with randomly oriented directional antenna patterns
typically have fewer short links and more long links which can bridge together
otherwise isolated subnetworks. This network feature is known to improve
overall connectivity in 2D random networks operating at low channel path loss.
To this end, we advance recently established results to obtain analytic
expressions for the mean degree of 3D networks for simple but practical
anisotropic gain profiles, including those of patch, dipole and end-fire array
antennas. Our analysis reveals that for homogeneous systems (i.e. neglecting
boundary effects) directional radiation patterns are superior to the isotropic
case only when the path loss exponent is less than the spatial dimension.
Moreover, we establish that ad hoc networks utilizing directional transmit and
isotropic receive antennas (or vice versa) are always sub-optimally connected
regardless of the environment path loss. We extend our analysis to investigate
boundary effects in inhomogeneous systems, and study the geometrical reasons
why directional radiating nodes are at a disadvantage to isotropic ones.
Finally, we discuss multi-directional gain patterns consisting of many equally
spaced lobes which could be used to mitigate boundary effects and improve
overall network connectivity.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure
- …