Collaborative Research: CNS Core: Medium: Combating Latency and Disconnectivity in mmWave Networks: From Theory to Implementation

预计到2022年，无线设备的数量将超过123亿，这将引发6 GHz以下频段即将到来的频谱危机。这些设备是由超低延迟和极高数据速率要求的应用程序推动的。因此，频谱丰富的毫米波（mmWave）频率，在30-300 GHz之间，被认为是未来移动蜂窝系统和新兴的具有Gbps数据速率的WiFi网络的关键组成部分。虽然毫米波频段确实有潜力提供非常高的速率，但其不可靠性可能导致非常差的终端用户性能。因此，该项目旨在开发低延迟毫米波通信协议，以大幅提高最终用户的性能。将使用概念验证实现和测试来评估和改进开发的技术。这个项目结合了从移动AR/VR流媒体到自动驾驶汽车等一系列新颖的应用，对年轻人（包括女性和未被充分代表的少数族裔）具有广泛的吸引力。通过每年的研讨会和夏令营项目，该项目还将提高女大学生和高中学生对计算机的参与。5g及以上无线网络的真正价值在很大程度上依赖于毫米波连接和可用性。因此，即使在压力条件下，在满足对延迟的严格要求之前，它们的全部潜力也无法实现。在基于毫米波的系统中，延迟主要由可用性（或缺乏可用性）决定，而不是由数据速率决定，其中可用性的缺乏是由于阻塞、高度定向通信、低效的资源分配和调度策略以及需要额外的波束对齐/改进步骤而表现出来的。本项目旨在为从物理层和MAC层到网络层和应用层数据预测的低延迟毫米波网络设计提供理论基础和算法开发。该项目将利用信息理论、通信系统、无线网络、协议设计、随机控制、优化和软件开发等多种工具。为了实现这些目标，本项目分为三个相互关联的重点：(i)敏捷连接设置，（ii）多用户管理和预测数据交付，以及（iii）概念验证实现和测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ever-increasing number of wireless devices that are projected to exceed 12.3 billion by 2022, is catalyzing a coming spectrum crisis in the sub-6 GHz bands. These devices are fueled by applications with ultra-low latency and extremely-high data rate requirements. Thus, spectrum-rich millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies, between 30-300 GHz, are being considered critical components of future mobile cellular systems and emerging WiFi networks with Gbps data rates. While it is true that the mmWave band has the potential to provide very high rates, its unreliability could lead to very poor end-user performance. Therefore, this project aims to develop low-latency mmWave communication protocols that substantially improve end-user performance. The developed techniques will be evaluated and refined using proof-of-concept implementation and testing. Tied with a wide range of novel applications – ranging from mobile AR/VR streaming to autonomous vehicles – this project has a broad appeal to young minds, including women and underrepresented minorities. Through an annual workshop and a summer camp program, this project will also increase participation in computing among female university and high school students. The true value of 5G-and-beyond wireless networks relies heavily on mmWave connectivity and availability. Thus, their full potential cannot be realized until stringent requirements on latency are satisfied even under stressed conditions. In mmWave-based systems, the delay is primarily dominated by availability (or lack thereof) and not by data rate, where lack of availability manifests itself due to blockage, highly directional communication, inefficient resource allocation, and scheduling policies, and the need for additional beam alignment/refinement steps. This project is aimed at developing the theoretical foundations and algorithmic development for low-latency mmWave networking design from the physical layer and MAC layer to the network layer and data prediction at the application layer. The project will leverage diverse tools across information theory, communication systems, wireless networking, protocol design, stochastic control, optimization, and software development. To achieve these goals, this project is organized in three inter-related thrusts: (i) agile connection setup, (ii) multi-user management and predictive data delivery, and (iii) proof-of-concept implementation and testing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.