Channel and delay coefficient are two essential parameters for the characterization of a multipath propagation environment. It is crucial to generate realistic channel and delay coefficient in order to study the channel characteristics that involves signals propagating through environments with severe multipath effects. While many deterministic channel models, such as ray-tracing (RT), face challenges like high computational complexity, data requirements for geometrical information, and inapplicability for space-ground links, and nongeometry-based stochastic channel models (NGSCMs) might lack spatial consistency and offer lower accuracy, we present a scalable tutorial for the channel modeling of dual mobile space-ground links in urban areas, utilizing the Quasi Deterministic Radio Channel Generator (QuaDRiGa), which adopts a geometry-based stochastic channel model (GSCM), in conjunction with an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) provided state duration model. This tutorial allows for the generation of realistic channel and delay coefficients in a multipath environment for dual mobile space-ground links. We validate the accuracy of the work by analyzing the generated channel and delay coefficient from several aspects, such as received signal power and amplitude, multipath delay distribution, delay spread and Doppler spectrum.
In order to bolster future wireless networks, there has been a great deal of interest in non-terrestrial networks, especially aerial platform stations including the high altitude platform station (HAPS) and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). These platforms can integrate advanced technologies such as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). In this regard, this paper proposes a multi-layer network architecture to improve the performance of conventional HAPS super-macro base station (HAPS-SMBS)-assisted UAV. The architecture includes a HAPS-SMBS, UAVs equipped with active transmissive RIS, and ground Internet of things devices. We also consider multiple-input single-output (MISO) technology, by employing multiple antennas at the HAPS-SMBS and a single antenna at the Internet of things devices. Additionally, we consider NOMA as the multiple access technology as well as the existence of hardware impairments as a practical limitation. In particular, we compare the proposed system model with three different scenarios: HAPS-SMBS-assisted UAV that are equipped with active transmissive RIS and supported by single-input single-output system, HAPS-SMBS-assisted UAV that are equipped with amplify-and-forward relaying, and HAPS-SMBS-assisted UAV-equipped with passive transmissive RIS. Sum rate and energy efficiency are used as performance metrics, and the findings demonstrate that, in comparison to all benchmarks, the proposed system yields higher performance gain. Moreover, the hardware impairment limits the system performance at high transmit power levels.
This study aims to introduce the cell load estimation problem of cell switching approaches in cellular networks specially-presented in a high-altitude platform station (HAPS)-assisted network. The problem arises from the fact that the traffic loads of sleeping base stations for the next time slot cannot be perfectly known, but they can rather be estimated, and any estimation error could result in divergence from the optimal decision, which subsequently affects the performance of energy efficiency. The traffic loads of the sleeping base stations for the next time slot are required because the switching decisions are made proactively in the current time slot. Two different Q-learning algorithms are developed; one is full-scale, focusing solely on the performance, while the other one is lightweight and addresses the computational cost. Results confirm that the estimation error is capable of changing cell switching decisions that yields performance divergence compared to no-error scenarios. Moreover, the developed Q-learning algorithms perform well since an insignificant difference (i.e., 0.3%) is observed between them and the optimum algorithm.
Distributed massive multiple-input multiple output (mMIMO) system for low earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks is introduced as a promising technique to provide broadband connectivity. Nevertheless, several challenges persist in implementing distributed mMIMO systems for LEO satellite networks. These challenges include providing scalable massive access implementation as the system complexity increases with network size. Another challenging issue is the asynchronous arrival of signals at the user terminals due to the different propagation delays among distributed antennas in space, which destroys the coherent transmission, and consequently degrades the system performance. In this paper, we propose a scalable distributed mMIMO system for LEO satellite networks based on dynamic user-centric clustering. Aiming to obtain scalable implementation, new algorithms for initial cooperative access, cluster selection, and cluster handover are provided. In addition, phase shift-aware precoding is implemented to compensate for the propagation delay phase shifts. The performance of the proposed user-centric distributed mMIMO is compared with two baseline configurations: the non-cooperative transmission systems, where each user connects to only a single satellite, and the full-cooperative distributed mMIMO systems, where all satellites contribute serving each user. The numerical results show the potential of the proposed distributed mMIMO system to enhance system spectral efficiency when compared to noncooperative transmission systems. Additionally, it demonstrates the ability to minimize the serving cluster size for each user, thereby reducing the overall system complexity in comparison to the full-cooperative distributed mMIMO systems.
The pursuit of higher data rates and efficient spectrum utilization in modern communication technologies necessitates novel solutions. In order to provide insights into improving spectral efficiency and reducing latency, this study investigates the maximum channel coding rate (MCCR) of finite block length (FBL) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) channels. By optimizing power allocation, we derive the system's MCCR expression. Simulation results are compared with the existing literature to reveal the benefits of FTN in FBL transmission.
This study investigates the integration of a high altitude platform station (HAPS), a non-terrestrial network (NTN) node, into the cell-switching paradigm for energy saving. By doing so, the sustainability and ubiquitous connectivity targets can be achieved. Besides, a delay-aware approach is also adopted, where the delay profiles of users are respected in such a way that we attempt to meet the latency requirements of users with a best-effort strategy. To this end, a novel, simple, and lightweight Q-learning algorithm is designed to address the cell-switching optimization problem. During the simulation campaigns, different interference scenarios and delay situations between base stations are examined in terms of energy consumption and quality-of-service (QoS), and the results confirm the efficacy of the proposed Q-learning algorithm.
Selection of hyperparameters in deep neural networks is a challenging problem due to the wide search space and emergence of various layers with specific hyperparameters. There exists an absence of consideration for the neural architecture selection of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for spectrum sensing. Here, we develop a method using reinforcement learning and Q-learning to systematically search and evaluate various architectures for generated datasets including different signals and channels in the spectrum sensing problem. We show by extensive simulations that CNN-based detectors proposed by our developed method outperform several detectors in the literature. For the most complex dataset, the proposed approach provides 9% enhancement in accuracy at the cost of higher computational complexity. Furthermore, a novel method using multi-armed bandit model for selection of the sensing time is proposed to achieve higher throughput and accuracy while minimizing the consumed energy. The method dynamically adjusts the sensing time under the time-varying condition of the channel without prior information. We demonstrate through a simulated scenario that the proposed method improves the achieved reward by about 20% compared to the conventional policies. Consequently, this study effectively manages the selection of important hyperparameters for CNN-based detectors offering superior performance of cognitive radio network.
Waveform generation is essential for studying signal propagation and channel characteristics, particularly for objects that are conceptualized but still need to be operational. We introduce a comprehensive guide on creating synthetic signals using channel and delay coefficients derived from the Quasi-Deterministic Radio Channel Generator (QuaDRiGa), which is recognized as a 3GPP-3D and 3GPP 38.901 reference implementation. The effectiveness of the proposed synthetic waveform generation method is validated through accurate estimation of code delay and Doppler shift. This validation is achieved using both the parallel code phase search technique and the conventional tracking method applied to satellites. As the method of integrating channel and delay coefficients to create synthetic waveforms is the same for satellite, HAPS, and gNB PRS, validating this method on synthetic satellite signals could potentially be extended to HAPS and gNB PRS as well. This study could significantly contribute to the field of heterogeneous navigation systems.
Simultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surface (STAR-RIS) is a cutting-edge concept for the sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks. In this letter, we propose a novel system that incorporates STAR-RIS with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) using rate splitting multiple access (RSMA). The proposed system facilitates communication from a multi-antenna base station (BS) to single-antenna users in a downlink transmission. The BS concurrently sends energy and information signals to multiple energy harvesting receivers (EHRs) and information data receivers (IDRs) with the support of a deployed STAR-RIS. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization is introduced to strike a balance between users' sum rate and the total harvested energy. To achieve this, an optimization problem is formulated to optimize the energy/information beamforming vectors at the BS, the phase shifts at the STAR-RIS, and the common message rate. Subsequently, we employ a meta deep deterministic policy gradient (Meta-DDPG) approach to solve the complex problem. Simulation results validate that the proposed algorithm significantly enhances both data rate and harvested energy in comparison to conventional DDPG.
The deployment of federated learning (FL) within vertical heterogeneous networks, such as those enabled by high-altitude platform station (HAPS), offers the opportunity to engage a wide array of clients, each endowed with distinct communication and computational capabilities. This diversity not only enhances the training accuracy of FL models but also hastens their convergence. Yet, applying FL in these expansive networks presents notable challenges, particularly the significant non-IIDness in client data distributions. Such data heterogeneity often results in slower convergence rates and reduced effectiveness in model training performance. Our study introduces a client selection strategy tailored to address this issue, leveraging user network traffic behaviour. This strategy involves the prediction and classification of clients based on their network usage patterns while prioritizing user privacy. By strategically selecting clients whose data exhibit similar patterns for participation in FL training, our approach fosters a more uniform and representative data distribution across the network. Our simulations demonstrate that this targeted client selection methodology significantly reduces the training loss of FL models in HAPS networks, thereby effectively tackling a crucial challenge in implementing large-scale FL systems.