Efficient Optimal Joint Channel Estimation and Data Detection for Massive MIMO Systems

In this paper, we propose an efficient optimal joint channel estimation and data detection algorithm for massive MIMO wireless systems. Our algorithm is optimal in terms of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT). For massive MIMO systems, we show that the expected complexity of our algorithm grows polynomially in the channel coherence time. Simulation results demonstrate significant performance gains of our algorithm compared with suboptimal non-coherent detection algorithms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first algorithm which efficiently achieves GLRT-optimal non-coherent detections for massive MIMO systems with general constellations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Conferenc

Analysis of Wireless Networks With Massive Connectivity

Recent years have witnessed unprecedented growth in wireless networks in terms of both data traffic and number of connected devices. How to support this fast increasing demand for high data traffic and connectivity is a key consideration in the design of future wireless communication systems. With this motivation, in this thesis, we focus on the analysis of wireless networks with massive connectivity. In the first part of the thesis, we seek to improve the energy efficiency (EE) of single-cell massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) networks with joint antenna selection and user scheduling. We propose a two-step iterative procedure to maximize the EE. In each iteration, bisection search and random selection are used first to determine a subset of antennas with the users selected before, and then identify the EE-optimal subset of users with the selected antennas via cross entropy algorithm. Subsequently, we focus on the joint uplink and downlink EE maximization, under a limitation on the number of available radio frequency (RF) chains. With the Jensen\u27s inequality and the power consumption model, the original problem is converted into a combinatorial optimization problem. Utilizing the learning-based stochastic gradient descent framework and the rare event simulation method, we propose an efficient learning-based stochastic gradient descent algorithm to solve the corresponding combinatorial optimization problem. In the second part of the thesis, we focus on the joint activity detection and channel estimation in cell-free massive MIMO systems with massive connectivity. At first, we conduct an asymptotic analysis of single measurement vector (SMV) based minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation in cell-free massive MIMO systems with massive connectivity. We establish a decoupling principle of SMV based MMSE estimation for sparse signal vectors with independent and non-identically distributed (i.n.i.d.) non-zero components. Subsequently, using the decoupling principle, likelihood ratio test and the optimal fusion rule, we obtain detection rules for the activity of users based on the received pilot signals at only one access point (AP), and also based on the cooperation of the received pilot signals from the entire set of APs for centralized and distributed detection. Moreover, we study the achievable uplink rates with zero-forcing (ZF) detector at the central processing unit (CPU) of the cell-free massive MIMO systems. In the third part, we focus on the performance analysis of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) assisted wireless networks. Initially, we investigate the MMSE channel estimation for IRS assisted wireless communication systems. Then, we study the sparse activity detection problem in IRS assisted wireless networks. Specifically, employing the generalized approximate message passing (GAMP) algorithm, we obtain the MMSE estimates of the equivalent effective channel coefficients from the base station (BS) to all users, and transform the received pilot signals into additive Gaussian noise corrupted versions of the equivalent effective channel coefficients. Likelihood ratio test is used to acquire decisions on the activity of each user based on the Gaussian noise corrupted equivalent effective channel coefficients, and the optimal fusion rule is used to obtain the final decisions on the activity of all users based on the previous decisions on the activity of each user and the corresponding reliabilities. Finally, we conduct an asymptotic analysis of maximizing the weighted sum rate by joint beamforming and power allocation under transmit power and quality-of-service (QoS) constraints in IRS assisted wireless networks

On Low-Resolution ADCs in Practical 5G Millimeter-Wave Massive MIMO Systems

Nowadays, millimeter-wave (mmWave) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems is a favorable candidate for the fifth generation (5G) cellular systems. However, a key challenge is the high power consumption imposed by its numerous radio frequency (RF) chains, which may be mitigated by opting for low-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), whilst tolerating a moderate performance loss. In this article, we discuss several important issues based on the most recent research on mmWave massive MIMO systems relying on low-resolution ADCs. We discuss the key transceiver design challenges including channel estimation, signal detector, channel information feedback and transmit precoding. Furthermore, we introduce a mixed-ADC architecture as an alternative technique of improving the overall system performance. Finally, the associated challenges and potential implementations of the practical 5G mmWave massive MIMO system {with ADC quantizers} are discussed.Comment: to appear in IEEE Communications Magazin

SVM-Based Channel Estimation and Data Detection for One-Bit Massive MIMO systems

The use of low-resolution Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) is a practical solution for reducing cost and power consumption for massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems. However, the severe nonlinearity of low-resolution ADCs causes significant distortions in the received signals and makes the channel estimation and data detection tasks much more challenging. In this paper, we show how Support Vector Machine (SVM), a well-known supervised-learning technique in machine learning, can be exploited to provide efficient and robust channel estimation and data detection in massive MIMO systems with one-bit ADCs. First, the problem of channel estimation for uncorrelated channels is formulated as a conventional SVM problem. The objective function of this SVM problem is then modified for estimating spatially correlated channels. Next, a two-stage detection algorithm is proposed where SVM is further exploited in the first stage. The performance of the proposed data detection method is very close to that of Maximum-Likelihood (ML) data detection when the channel is perfectly known. We also propose an SVM-based joint Channel Estimation and Data Detection (CE-DD) method, which makes use of both the to-be-decoded data vectors and the pilot data vectors to improve the estimation and detection performance. Finally, an extension of the proposed methods to OFDM systems with frequency-selective fading channels is presented. Simulation results show that the proposed methods are efficient and robust, and also outperform existing ones

Massive MIMO is a Reality -- What is Next? Five Promising Research Directions for Antenna Arrays

Massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) is no longer a "wild" or "promising" concept for future cellular networks - in 2018 it became a reality. Base stations (BSs) with 64 fully digital transceiver chains were commercially deployed in several countries, the key ingredients of Massive MIMO have made it into the 5G standard, the signal processing methods required to achieve unprecedented spectral efficiency have been developed, and the limitation due to pilot contamination has been resolved. Even the development of fully digital Massive MIMO arrays for mmWave frequencies - once viewed prohibitively complicated and costly - is well underway. In a few years, Massive MIMO with fully digital transceivers will be a mainstream feature at both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies. In this paper, we explain how the first chapter of the Massive MIMO research saga has come to an end, while the story has just begun. The coming wide-scale deployment of BSs with massive antenna arrays opens the door to a brand new world where spatial processing capabilities are omnipresent. In addition to mobile broadband services, the antennas can be used for other communication applications, such as low-power machine-type or ultra-reliable communications, as well as non-communication applications such as radar, sensing and positioning. We outline five new Massive MIMO related research directions: Extremely large aperture arrays, Holographic Massive MIMO, Six-dimensional positioning, Large-scale MIMO radar, and Intelligent Massive MIMO.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Digital Signal Processin