Design and Optimization of Sixth Generation (6G) Wireless Networks

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The ongoing commercial deployment of fifth generation (5G) wireless networks is revealing that although 5G can indeed support data-hungry applications, such as broadband and video streaming, it is still falling short of supporting the so-called Internet of Everything, connecting millions of people and billions of machines (devices) that require an extremely high data rate, with ultra-high reliable, and/or ultra-low latency communications. The revealed limitation of 5G wireless networks, coupled with the emergence of some new and emerging applications, such as immersive virtual/augmented reality, have spurred research interest in both academia and industry on the future sixth generation (6G) wireless networks. Research on 6G wireless networks is still in its infancy, and the critical challenge of the network design and performance optimization remains open. Hence, this NSERC Discovery Grant application tackles the critical challenge and provides innovative and original solutions through five 6G key enabling technologies, namely, pushing communications to the higher terahertz frequency band, creating smart environments through reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, removing the conventional cell structures, eliminating batteries in devices and powering them using ambient backscatter communication, and intelligentizing the network through artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). Specifically, I propose to perform an in-depth study to quantify the capabilities and limitations of the above 6G key enabling technologies to support the new and emerging applications. I will design and implement a new network slicing framework for simultaneous support of the variety of the new applications having diverse performance requirements. I will develop and implement an ML-based cross-layer design framework that jointly optimizes the network functions across all seven layers of the open systems interconnection stack, and thus, achieve a global optimality. I will design, model, and analyze new protocols for energy harvesting user devices and sensors to achieve the goal of green and sustainable communication. I will propose, design, model, and analyze, innovative techniques for automating 6G wireless network management and orchestration. I will design and implement an ML-based framework for real-time performance optimization of the complex, heterogeneous, and dynamic 6G wireless networks. I will develop new and novel theoretical techniques for performance evaluation to gain valuable insights. The research outcomes will exert an impact at the social, economic, and environmental spheres for Canada. My research will enhance the quality of life for average Canadians. Furthermore, my proposed research program will provide training in cutting-edge research in 6G wireless network design and optimization to graduate and undergraduate students, whose highly desired technical skills are vital for continued growth of the Canadian telecommunications industry.