ITR: High Speed Internet Access in Buildings using Heating and Ventilation Ducts

[0219278]建筑（住宅、办公室和商业）中的高速互联网接入是下一代无线网络当今面临的最重要挑战之一。此外，现代建筑物具有复杂的通信基础设施，其中可能包括建筑物控制、警报、有线和无线电话、高速数据服务和无线局域网的规定。目前，这些服务每项都有单独的有线/无线系统提供。在建筑物中提供通信基础设施的另一种方法是认识到每个建筑物都已经配备了微波分配系统：加热和通风（HVAC）管道。这些管道的设计目的是将空气输送到建筑物的各个部分，但也可以作为微波信号的中空金属波导。将暖通空调与通信相结合，形成一个单一的集成系统，可能会导致智能建筑基础设施的新范式。如果被广泛采用，这项研究的影响可能是非常深远的，可能会影响到整个发达国家建造的每一座主要新建筑的设计和建造。对于最常见的管道尺寸和通信频率，管道表现为多模波导。在微波通信中使用多模波导的可能性在50多年前首次提出，尽管详细的信道特性尚未得到充分研究。本提案的目标是了解常见管道组件（如弯管，三通管和眼管）的模式散射和转换，并研究如何利用通道的多模特性来增加通道的容量。为了研究模式转换和散射，将构建一个能够激发特定模式或模式组合的多天线结构。通过所研究的组件时的模态含量将通过扫描管道开放出口端的近场模态剖面来确定。将通过构造一对多天线阵列作为输入输出和输出耦合器来研究增加管道容量的可能性。多输入/多输出多径信道技术将用于演示在同一频段内实现两个独立信道。本研究将全额资助两名研究生。本主题为掌握微波测量、无线信道模型、信道容量和网络架构等概念提供了一个新的背景。本科生也将参与研究以获得项目学分。研究结果将在主要的国际无线会议上发表，详细的论文将提交给档案期刊，以进一步传播结果。这些报告和论文也为研究生提供了磨练他们的报告和写作技巧的重要机会。最后，研究结果将在每年提供的研究生无线通信入门课程中作为例子和案例研究。这门课程通常招收50-60名学生。

0219278StancilHigh-speed internet access in buildings (residential, office, and commercial) is one of the most important challenges that next generation wireless networks face today. Further, modern buildings have complex communications infrastructures that may include provisions for building controls, alarms, wired and wireless telephones, high-speed data services, and wireless LANs. At present, these services are provided with separate wired/wireless systems for each service.An alternative approach to providing the communications infrastructure in buildings is to recognize that every building is already equipped with a microwave distribution system: the heating and ventilation (HVAC) ducts. These ducts are designed to carry air to and from all parts of the building, but can also function as hollow metal waveguides for microwave signals. Combining the HVAC with communications to form a single integrated system could lead to a new paradigm in smart building infrastructure. If widely adopted, the impact of this research could be very far-reaching, potentially impacting the design and construction of every major new building constructed throughout the developed world.For the most common duct sizes and communication frequencies, the ducts behave as multimode waveguides. The possibility of using multimode waveguides for microwave communications was first suggested more than 50 years ago, although the detailed channel characteristics have not been fully investigated. The goals of this proposal are to gain an understanding of mode scattering and conversion at common duct components such as bends, tees, and wyes, and to investigate how the multimode nature of the channel can be used to increase the capacity of the channel.To investigate the mode conversion and scattering, a multiple-antenna structure will be constructed that is capable of exciting specific modes or combinations of modes. The mode content upon passing through a component under study will be determined by scanning the near-field mode profile at the open exit end of the duct. The possibility of increasing the capacity of the duct will be investigated by constructing a pair of multiple antenna arrays for use as input and output and output couplers. Multiple-input/multiple-output multipath channel techniques will be used to demonstrate realization of two independent channels in the same frequency band.Two graduate students will be fully supported by this research. The topic provides a novel context for mastering concepts in microwave measurements, wireless channel models, channel capacity, and network architecture. Undergraduates will also be involved in the research for project credit.The results from the research will be presented at major international wireless conferences, and detailed papers will be submitted to archival journals to further disseminate the results. These presentations and papers also offer significant opportunities for the graduate students to hone their presentation and writingskills.Finally, results from the research will be used as examples and case studies in the introductory graduate Wireless Communications course offered each year. This course typically enrolls 50-60 students.