Exploiting Multiple Antennas in Multiuser Wireless Networks

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Project AbstractExploiting Multiple Antennas in Multiuser Wireless Networks Huaiyu Dai and Brian L. Hughes, NC State University Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques exploit the presence of multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver to improve performance in wireless communication systems. Most work on MIMO has thus far focused on point-to-point communications and physical-layer performance metrics. However, many important wireless applications involve substantial contention among multiple users in complex time-varying environments, in which network-level metrics such as throughput, latency and heterogeneous user quality-of-service may be more relevant. While much is known about point-to-point MIMO communication, the design of efficient multiuser MIMO networks is far less well understood and entails greater challenges. Intellectual Merit: This project deals with joint analysis and design of physical (PHY) and medium-access-control (MAC) layer protocols for multiuser MIMO networks. The aim is to understand how PHY and MAC-layer protocols combine to determine overall performance, and how these protocols can be jointly designed to optimize performance. Three main issues are addressed: (a) fundamental performance tradeoffs between PHY-layer techniques and MAC-layer techniques under diverse channel conditions, (b) joint design of PHY and MAC-layer protocols to promote collaboration between layers rather than competition, and (c) the impact and optimal exploitation of imperfect channel feedback. Broader Impacts: This project investigates how best to deploy multiple-antenna techniques in wireless networks, which may have a significant impact on emerging wireless standards for several applications, including cellular telephony, wireless LANs and sensor networks. Material from this project will be incorporated into wireless courses at NCSU, and several university programs will be exploited to encourage participation by underrepresented groups. The PIs will also participate in outreach programs to disseminate research findings to industry and the broader public.