Simultaneous Energy and Information Transmission in Gaussian Multiple Access Channels

International audienceIn this paper, simultaneous wireless information and energy transmission is studied from an information theoretic standpoint. The main contribution is twofold: (i) the capacity-energy region of the memoryless Gaussian multiple access channel is fully characterized; and (ii) the maximum sum-rate that can be achieved when a minimum energy level is required at the input of the receiver is determined. In particular, it is shown that the sum-capacity for a given energy threshold can be achieved by a simple power-splitting scheme

Feedback Enhances Simultaneous Wireless Information and Energy Transmission in Multiple Access Channels

In this report, the fundamental limits of simultaneous information and energy transmission in the two-user Gaussian multiple access channel (G-MAC) with and without feedback are fully characterized. More specifically, all the achievable information and energy transmission rates (in bits per channel use and energy-units per channel use, respectively) are identified. Furthermore, the fundamental limits on the individual and sum- rates given a minimum energy rate ensured at an energy harvester are also characterized. In the case without feedback, an achievability scheme based on power-splitting and successive interference cancellation is shown to be optimal. Alternatively, in the case with feedback (G-MAC-F), a simple yet optimal achievability scheme based on power-splitting and Ozarow's capacity achieving scheme is presented. Finally, the energy transmission enhancement induced by the use of feedback is quantified. Feedback can at most double the energy transmission rate at high SNRs when the information transmission sum-rate is kept fixed at the sum-capacity of the G-MAC, but it has no effect at very low SNRs.Comment: INRIA REPORT N{\deg}8804, accepted for publication in IEEE transactions on Information Theory, March, 201

Energy Harvesting Wireless Communications: A Review of Recent Advances

This article summarizes recent contributions in the broad area of energy harvesting wireless communications. In particular, we provide the current state of the art for wireless networks composed of energy harvesting nodes, starting from the information-theoretic performance limits to transmission scheduling policies and resource allocation, medium access and networking issues. The emerging related area of energy transfer for self-sustaining energy harvesting wireless networks is considered in detail covering both energy cooperation aspects and simultaneous energy and information transfer. Various potential models with energy harvesting nodes at different network scales are reviewed as well as models for energy consumption at the nodes.Comment: To appear in the IEEE Journal of Selected Areas in Communications (Special Issue: Wireless Communications Powered by Energy Harvesting and Wireless Energy Transfer