NeTS: Small: Coexistence and Cooperation in Future Spectrum Sharing Heterogeneous Networks

世界见证了无线设备数量和需求的指数增长，以及几乎渗透到我们日常生活方方面面的无线宽带网络应用的增加。然而，目前的无线通信网络技术无法持续这种进步，这一事实促使人们对下一代无线系统进行研究创新，通常被称为5G技术。将有助于满足5G网络中这些需求的两个关键范式转变是部署与设备到设备和多跳无线通信相结合的异质小蜂窝网络，以及采用更具创新性的方式通过认知无线电和动态频谱接入共享频谱。该项目提供了量化未来频谱灵活的异质网络的设计权衡的工具，以及理论性能限制。预计同一地理区域将存在多个网络，每个网络都有不同的访问规则和访问协议。该项目研究这些网络之间的共存和可能的合作。考虑了两种合作模式：接力合作和内容合作。我们考虑了两种方法来分析这些模式中的每一种，这两种方法构成了该方案的两个推力：推力I：排队网络方法，其特征在于有限的和渐近的性能，并且侧重于基于随机接入的方案；以及推力II：调度和优化方法，其特征在于理论上最佳的可能性能。这项工作的更广泛影响包括为两门研究生水平的课程开发课程项目和模块，这些课程整合了这项研究的两个重点的成果，K-12外联，加强学生多样性，增加工程学领域的妇女和代表性不足群体的数量，以及为学生提供国际接触的国际合作。

The world has witnessed an exponential growth in the number and demand of wireless devices, and an increase in the array of wireless broadband network applications that has permeated virtually all aspects of our daily lives. However, this progress cannot be sustained with the current wireless communication network technologies, and this fact has spurred research innovations towards the next generation of wireless systems, typically termed 5G technologies. Two key paradigm shifts that will help meet these demands in 5G networks are the deployment of heterogeneous small cell networks combined with device to device and multi-hop wireless communication, and the adoption of more innovative ways of sharing the spectrum through cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access.This project provides tools for quantifying the design trade-offs in future spectrum-agile heterogeneous networks, as well as the theoretical performance limits. Several networks are expected to exist in the same geographical area, each with varying access rules and access protocols. The project studies co-existence and possible cooperation between such networks. Two modes of cooperation are considered: relay cooperation and content cooperation. Two approaches are considered for the analysis of each of these modes, which compose the two thrusts of the proposal: Thrust I: queuing network approaches, which characterize finite as well as asymptotic performance, and focus on random-access based schemes; and Thrust II: scheduling and optimization approaches, which characterize the theoretical best possible performance. The broader impacts of the work include the development of course projects and modules for two graduate level courses that integrate results from the two thrusts of this research, K-12 outreach, enhancement of student diversity and increase of number of women and under-represented groups in engineering, and international collaboration that offers international exposure for students.