CCSS: Collaborative Research: Smart-Grid Powered Green Communications in Heterogeneous Networks

目前的无线通信网络和电网基础设施都即将发生重大的范式转变。传统的蜂窝结构正在向由密集部署的宏/微/微微蜂窝基站(BS)组成的异质网络(HetNets)演进。在这样的HetNet中，提倡协调传输以进行节能的绿色通信。与此同时，目前的电力网络基础设施也正在向所谓的智能电网过渡，它承诺提供前所未有的可监控性。预计未来所有的通信系统都将由智能电网供电。因此，将智能电网技术整合到系统设计中，是充分开发下一代HetNet中绿色通信潜力的关键。这突显了在HetNet部署中对智能电网供电的绿色通信进行基本了解和系统探索的明确需要。为此，本项目的中心是用于智能电网供电的绿色通信的变革性分析和算法工具。我们的愿景是建立一个基于最先进的优化方法的综合框架，以联合设计绿色HetNet和关键相关的智能电网运营。通过将这两个领域的思想相互融合，最终目标是为智能电网供电的HetNet提出统一的建模、分析和设计资源管理方案的方法。拟议研究的工程成果是一套协议，用于分布式、实时地实施基站激活、HetNet中的协调波束形成，以及智能电网的可再生能源收集和储存、需求响应和机组组合操作。创建节能、分布式、实时的算法将极大地提高新兴无线蜂窝网络的性能，同时减少碳排放，增强应对气候变化和全球变暖的绿色通信解决方案。该项目还解决了改善本科生STEM教育、增加未被充分代表的少数群体的参与以及促进具有科学素养的公众的更广泛影响。

Both the current wireless communication networks and the electricity grid infrastructure are on the verge of a major paradigm shift. The traditional cellular architecture is evolving into heterogeneous networks (HetNets) consisting of densely deployed macro/micro/pico-cell base stations (BSs). In such HetNets, coordinated transmissions are advocated to perform energy-efficient green communications. At the same time, the current power network infrastructure is also migrating toward a so-termed smart grid that promises unprecedented levels of monitorability and controllability. It is expected that all future communication systems will be powered by a smart grid. Integration of smart-grid technologies into system designs then holds the key to fully exploiting the potential of green communications in next-generation HetNets. This highlights the clear need for fundamental understanding and systematic exploration of smart-grid powered green communications in HetNet deployments.To this end, the present project is centered on transformative analytical and algorithmic tools for smart-grid powered green communications. The vision is to establish a comprehensive framework based on state-of-the-art optimization approaches to jointly design green HetNets along with critically relevant smart grid operations. By cross-fertilizing ideas between these two fields, the ultimate goal is to set forth a unified treatment for modeling, analyzing, and designing resource management schemes for smart-grid powered HetNets. The engineering outcome of the proposed research is a suite of protocols for distributed, real-time implementation of basestation activation, coordinated beamforming in HetNets, as well as renewable energy harvesting and storage, demand response, and unit commitment operations for smart grids. Creating energy-efficient, distributed, real-time algorithms will greatly enhance the performance of emerging wireless cellular networks while reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the green communication solution to climate change and global warming. This project also addresses the broader impacts of improving undergraduate STEM education, increasing participation of under-represented minorities, and promoting a scientifically literate public.