Efficient user clustering, receive antenna selection, and power allocation algorithms for massive MIMO-NOMA systems

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA)-based technologies are considered as essential parts in the 5G systems to fulfill the escalating demands of higher connectivity and data rates for emerging wireless applications. In this paper, a new approach of massive MIMO-NOMA with receive antenna selection (RAS) is considered for the uplink channel to significantly increase the number of connected devices and overall sum rate capacity with improved user-fairness and less complexity. The proposed scheme is designed from two multiuser MIMO (MU-MIMO) clusters, based on the available number of radio frequency chains (RFCs) at the base station and channel conditions, followed by power-domain NOMA for the simultaneous signal transmission. We derive the sum rate and capacity region expressions for MIMO-NOMA with RAS over Rayleigh fading channels. Then, an optimal and three highly efficient sub-optimal dynamic user clustering, RAS, and power allocation algorithms are proposed for sum rate maximization under received power constraints and minimum rate requirements of the allowed users. The effectiveness of designed algorithms is verified through extensive analysis and numerical simulations compared to the reference MU-MIMO and MIMO-NOMA systems. The achieved results show a substantial increase in connectivity, up to two-fold for the accessible number of RFCs, and overall sum rate capacity while satisfying the minimum users’ rates. Besides, important tradeoffs can be realized between system performances, hardware and computational complexities, and desired user-fairness in terms of serving more users with equal/unequal rates

Evolution of NOMA Toward Next Generation Multiple Access (NGMA) for 6G

Due to the explosive growth in the number of wireless devices and diverse wireless services, such as virtual/augmented reality and Internet-of-Everything, next generation wireless networks face unprecedented challenges caused by heterogeneous data traffic, massive connectivity, and ultra-high bandwidth efficiency and ultra-low latency requirements. To address these challenges, advanced multiple access schemes are expected to be developed, namely next generation multiple access (NGMA), which are capable of supporting massive numbers of users in a more resource- and complexity-efficient manner than existing multiple access schemes. As the research on NGMA is in a very early stage, in this paper, we explore the evolution of NGMA with a particular focus on non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), i.e., the transition from NOMA to NGMA. In particular, we first review the fundamental capacity limits of NOMA, elaborate on the new requirements for NGMA, and discuss several possible candidate techniques. Moreover, given the high compatibility and flexibility of NOMA, we provide an overview of current research efforts on multi-antenna techniques for NOMA, promising future application scenarios of NOMA, and the interplay between NOMA and other emerging physical layer techniques. Furthermore, we discuss advanced mathematical tools for facilitating the design of NOMA communication systems, including conventional optimization approaches and new machine learning techniques. Next, we propose a unified framework for NGMA based on multiple antennas and NOMA, where both downlink and uplink transmissions are considered, thus setting the foundation for this emerging research area. Finally, several practical implementation challenges for NGMA are highlighted as motivation for future work.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figures, a survey paper accepted by the IEEE JSAC special issue on Next Generation Multiple Acces

Provably Energy Efficiency and Lower Power Consumption Based on HOA in 5G MIMO-NOMA Systems

The rapid expansion of 5G communication networks necessitates improved energy efficiency and reduced power consumption. This article explores the integration of Hybrid Optimization Algorithms (HOA) in 5G MIMO-NOMA systems, aiming to enhance energy efficiency and minimize power usage. The proposed methodology leverages MIMO technology and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA). We introduce a new power consumption model based on HOA, recognizing MIMO-NOMA as pivotal in future wireless communication systems. HOA allows simultaneous service for more users, leading to heightened energy efficiency and reduced power consumption compared to conventional MIMO or NOMA systems. A streamlined user admission scheme is presented, admitting users based on ascending power requirements to meet Quality of Service criteria. Numerical results demonstrate the efficacy of HOA and the power allocation strategy in enhancing energy efficiency and user admission. Comparative analysis shows lower power consumption and approximately a 10% increase in energy efficiency compared to traditional methods and other algorithms like GA, PSO, SPPA, and the water-filling algorithm

A Tutorial on Nonorthogonal Multiple Access for 5G and Beyond

Today's wireless networks allocate radio resources to users based on the orthogonal multiple access (OMA) principle. However, as the number of users increases, OMA based approaches may not meet the stringent emerging requirements including very high spectral efficiency, very low latency, and massive device connectivity. Nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) principle emerges as a solution to improve the spectral efficiency while allowing some degree of multiple access interference at receivers. In this tutorial style paper, we target providing a unified model for NOMA, including uplink and downlink transmissions, along with the extensions tomultiple inputmultiple output and cooperative communication scenarios. Through numerical examples, we compare the performances of OMA and NOMA networks. Implementation aspects and open issues are also detailed.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure

Multiuser Diversity Management for Multicast/Broadcast Services in 5G and Beyond Networks

The envisaged fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks represent a paradigm shift for global communications, offering unprecedented breakthroughs in media service delivery with novel capabilities and use cases. Addressing the critical research verticals and challenges that characterize the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2030 framework requires a compelling mix of enabling radio access technologies (RAT) and native softwarized, disaggregated, and intelligent radio access network (RAN) conceptions. In such a context, the multicast/broadcast ser vice (MBS) capability is an appealing feature to address the ever-growing traffic demands, disruptive multimedia services, massive connectivity, and low-latency applications. Embracing the MBS capability as a primary component of the envisaged 5G and beyond networks comes with multiple open challenges. In this research, we contextualize and address the necessity of ensuring stringent quality of service (QoS)/quality of experience (QoE) requirements, multicasting over millimeter-wave (mmWave) and sub-Terahertz (THz) frequencies, and handling complex mobility behaviors. In the broad problem space around these three significant challenges, we focus on the specific research problems of effectively handling the trade-off between multicasting gain and multiuser diversity, along with the trade-off between optimal network performance and computational complexity. In this research, we cover essential aspects at the intersection of MBS, radio resource management (RRM), machine learning (ML), and the Open RAN (O-RAN) framework. We characterize and address the dynamic multicast multiuser diversity through low-complexity RRM solutions aided by ML, orthogonal multiple access (OMA) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) techniques in 5G MBS and beyond networks. We characterize the performance of the multicast access techniques conventional multicast scheme (CMS), subgrouping based on OMA (S-OMA), and subgrouping based on NOMA (S-NOMA). We provide conditions for their adequate selection regarding the specific network conditions (Chapter 4). Consequently, we propose heuristic methods for the dynamic multicast access technique selection and resource allocation, taking advantage of the multiuser diversity (Chapter 5.1). Moreover, we proposed a multicasting strategy based on fixed pre-computed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) multi-beams and S-NOMA (Chapter 5.2). Our approach tackles specific throughput requirements for enabling extended reality (XR) applications attending multiple users and handling their spatial and channel quality diversity. We address the computational complexity (CC) associated with the dynamic multicast RRM strategies and highlight the implications of fast variations in the reception conditions of the multicast group (MG) members. We propose a low complexity ML-based solution structured by a multicast-oriented trigger to avoid overrunning the algorithm, a K-Means clustering for group-oriented detection and splitting, and a classifier for selecting the most suitable multicast access technique (Chapter 6.1). Our proposed approaches allow addressing the trade-off between optimal network performance and CC by maximizing specific QoS parameters through non-optimal solutions, considerably reducing the CC of conventional exhaustive mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss the insertion of ML-based multicasting RRM solutions into the envisioned disaggregated O-RAN framework (Chapter 6.2.5). We analyze specific MBS tasks and the importance of a native decentralized, softwarized, and intelligent conception. We assess the effectiveness of our proposal under multiple numerical and link level simulations of recreated 5G MBS use cases operating in μWave and mmWave. We evaluate various network conditions, service constraints, and users’ mobility behaviors