1,028 research outputs found
Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial Communication Networks for the Maritime Internet of Things: Key Technologies, Opportunities, and Challenges
With the rapid development of marine activities, there has been an increasing
number of maritime mobile terminals, as well as a growing demand for high-speed
and ultra-reliable maritime communications to keep them connected.
Traditionally, the maritime Internet of Things (IoT) is enabled by maritime
satellites. However, satellites are seriously restricted by their high latency
and relatively low data rate. As an alternative, shore & island-based base
stations (BSs) can be built to extend the coverage of terrestrial networks
using fourth-generation (4G), fifth-generation (5G), and beyond 5G services.
Unmanned aerial vehicles can also be exploited to serve as aerial maritime BSs.
Despite of all these approaches, there are still open issues for an efficient
maritime communication network (MCN). For example, due to the complicated
electromagnetic propagation environment, the limited geometrically available BS
sites, and rigorous service demands from mission-critical applications,
conventional communication and networking theories and methods should be
tailored for maritime scenarios. Towards this end, we provide a survey on the
demand for maritime communications, the state-of-the-art MCNs, and key
technologies for enhancing transmission efficiency, extending network coverage,
and provisioning maritime-specific services. Future challenges in developing an
environment-aware, service-driven, and integrated satellite-air-ground MCN to
be smart enough to utilize external auxiliary information, e.g., sea state and
atmosphere conditions, are also discussed
IoT and UAV Integration in 5G Hybrid Terrestrial-Satellite Networks
The Fifth Generation of Mobile Communications (5G) will lead to the growth of use cases demanding higher capacity and a enhanced data rate, a lower latency, and a more flexible and scalable network able to offer better user Quality of Experience (QoE). The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of these use cases. It has been spreading in the recent past few years, and it covers a wider range of possible application scenarios, such as smart city, smart factory, and smart agriculture, among many others. However, the limitations of the terrestrial network hinder the deployment of IoT devices and services. Besides, the existence of a plethora of different solutions (short vs. long range, commercialized vs. standardized, etc.), each of them based on different communication protocols and, in some cases, on different access infrastructures, makes the integration among them and with the upcoming 5G infrastructure more difficult. This paper discusses the huge set of IoT solutions available or still under standardization that will need to be integrated in the 5G framework. UAVs and satellites will be proposed as possible solutions to ease this integration, overcoming the limitations of the terrestrial infrastructure, such as the limited covered areas and the densification of the number of IoT devices per square kilometer
Five Facets of 6G: Research Challenges and Opportunities
Whilst the fifth-generation (5G) systems are being rolled out across the
globe, researchers have turned their attention to the exploration of radical
next-generation solutions. At this early evolutionary stage we survey five main
research facets of this field, namely {\em Facet~1: next-generation
architectures, spectrum and services, Facet~2: next-generation networking,
Facet~3: Internet of Things (IoT), Facet~4: wireless positioning and sensing,
as well as Facet~5: applications of deep learning in 6G networks.} In this
paper, we have provided a critical appraisal of the literature of promising
techniques ranging from the associated architectures, networking, applications
as well as designs. We have portrayed a plethora of heterogeneous architectures
relying on cooperative hybrid networks supported by diverse access and
transmission mechanisms. The vulnerabilities of these techniques are also
addressed and carefully considered for highlighting the most of promising
future research directions. Additionally, we have listed a rich suite of
learning-driven optimization techniques. We conclude by observing the
evolutionary paradigm-shift that has taken place from pure single-component
bandwidth-efficiency, power-efficiency or delay-optimization towards
multi-component designs, as exemplified by the twin-component ultra-reliable
low-latency mode of the 5G system. We advocate a further evolutionary step
towards multi-component Pareto optimization, which requires the exploration of
the entire Pareto front of all optiomal solutions, where none of the components
of the objective function may be improved without degrading at least one of the
other components
A Holistic Investigation on Terahertz Propagation and Channel Modeling Toward Vertical Heterogeneous Networks
User-centric and low latency communications can be enabled not only by small
cells but also through ubiquitous connectivity. Recently, the vertical
heterogeneous network (V-HetNet) architecture is proposed to backhaul/fronthaul
a large number of small cells. Like an orchestra, the V-HetNet is a polyphony
of different communication ensembles, including geostationary orbit (GEO), and
low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites (e.g., CubeSats), and networked flying
platforms (NFPs) along with terrestrial communication links. In this study, we
propose the Terahertz (THz) communications to enable the elements of V-HetNets
to function in harmony. As THz links offer a large bandwidth, leading to
ultra-high data rates, it is suitable for backhauling and fronthauling small
cells. Furthermore, THz communications can support numerous applications from
inter-satellite links to in-vivo nanonetworks. However, to savor this harmony,
we need accurate channel models. In this paper, the insights obtained through
our measurement campaigns are highlighted, to reveal the true potential of THz
communications in V-HetNets.Comment: It has been accepted for the publication in IEEE Communications
Magazin
Role of satellite communications in 5G ecosystem: perspectives and challenges
The next generation of mobile radio communication systems – so-called 5G – will
provide some major changes to those generations to date. The ability to cope with huge
increases in data traffic at reduced latencies and improved quality of user experience
together with a major reduction in energy usage are big challenges. In addition,
future systems will need to embody connections to billions of objects – the so-called
Internet of Things (IoT) which raises new challenges.Visions of 5G are now available
from regions across the world and research is ongoing towards new standards. The
consensus is a flatter architecture that adds a dense network of small cells operating in
the millimetre wave bands and which are adaptable and software controlled. But what
is the place for satellites in such a vision? The chapter examines several potential
roles for satellites in 5G including coverage extension, IoT, providing resilience,
content caching and multi-cast, and the integrated architecture. Furthermore, the
recent advances in satellite communications together with the challenges associated
with the use of satellite in the integrated satellite-terrestrial architecture are also
discussed
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