Integrated Communication and Signal Processing for Wireless Sensor and Ad Hoc Networks

无线传感器和自组织网络的集成通信和信号处理这一集成系统方案侧重于通过集成通信和信号处理方法来设计分布式传感器网络。在基本信息处理不等价性的驱动下，我们提出了一种新的范式，其中信息的传输和处理都要进行内聚设计。与传统的分离方法相比，该方法既节省了资源，又具有更好的性能。面向以推理为中心的传感器网络应用，提出了一种分布式联合信源信道编码算法，在严格的资源和时延约束下，比分离编码算法具有更好的性能。在缺乏信道信息的情况下，提出了一种基于多描述码思想的主动式信号处理设计方法。该分布式多描述信令方案提供了一种智能和资源高效的方式来利用不同传感器节点上的信源相关性，并且对潜在的信道故障具有健壮性。研究生和本科生都将积极参与拟议的研究活动。虽然研究生将在拟议的研究中发挥不可或缺的作用，但本科生也将积极参与与拟议工作相关的结构良好的研究活动。参与精心设计的创意项目将有助于培养学生对科学研究活动的持久热情。最后，将通过各种教育举措，包括开发新课程，传播研究成果。

Integrated Communication and Signal Processing for Wireless Sensor and Ad Hoc NetworksThis integrative systems proposal focuses on the design of distributed sensor networks through an integrated communication and signal processing approach. Driven by the fundamental information processing inequality, we propose a new paradigm where the information transmission and processing are to be cohesively designed. Compared with the conventional separation approach, this proposed approach is both resource-efficient and superior in performance. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for resource and delay constrained sensor networks applications where all sensor nodes are engaged in a collective inference task.Catering toward inference-centric sensor network applications, we will develop distributed joint source-channel coding algorithms that are superior in performance compared with the separation approach under stringent resource and delay constraints. In the absence of channel information, we offer a proactive signal processing design approach using the multiple description code idea. This distributed multiple description signaling scheme provides an intelligent and resource efficient way to exploit the source correlation at different sensor nodes and is robust to potential channel failures.The broad impacts of the proposed project are multi-faceted. Both graduate and undergraduate students will be actively engaged in the proposed research activities. While graduate students will play an integral role of the proposed research, undergraduate students will also be actively involved in well-structured research activities related to the proposed work. Exposure in carefully designed creative projects will help the students foster their long lasting enthusiasm in scientific research activities. Finally, the dissemination of the research results will be pursued through various educational initiatives, including new curriculum development.