CIF: Small: Realizing Millimeter Wave Communication Systems

蜂窝网络受到微波频率可用频谱有限的挑战。在过去的几年中，已经提出了各种技术来实现超高水平的频谱效率，涉及使用多个天线、服务多个用户以及缩小小区大小。这些技术中的许多技术具有显著的潜力，但由于可用频谱有限而不能提供高数据速率。一种替代方案是使用3-300 GHz之间的毫米波（mmWave）频带来提供高带宽通信信道。 然而，实现毫米波蜂窝通信需要解决毫米波和微波通信之间的根本差异。毫米波网络将需要在发射器和接收器处的高增益定向天线，以克服较高频率下的路径损耗，并确保接收器处的足够信噪比。这些定向天线必须使用模拟和数字信号处理技术的组合来实现，这是由于混合信号硬件的功耗。蜂窝系统必须设计成从一开始就支持高度定向的发送和接收，并且还必须处理信号阻塞的增加的影响。该研究项目将通过结合毫米波通信的关键特性和限制来确定毫米波蜂窝网络的潜力。为了了解这种网络的潜力，该项目将开发数学工具来分析大规模毫米波蜂窝网络的性能，明确地结合定向天线和阻塞。为了实现强大的通信，该项目将创建同时适用于恶劣的毫米波传播环境和毫米波硬件有限能力的通信策略。为了利用与低频信号的潜在共存，该项目将研究利用微波和毫米波蜂窝系统共存的混合接入系统的设计和分析。研究重点的一个主题是将毫米波通信的关键特征纳入算法和分析中。预计该项目的理论、算法和架构将在不同领域产生更广泛的影响。在这项研究中开发的数学工具将影响定向通信蜂窝网络的设计和实现。基于阵列处理和随机几何的信号处理算法将为人们对毫米波无线通信的新认识铺平道路。无线网络和通信集团（WNCG）的工业附属公司将研究结果纳入其无线网络技术，从而对行业产生影响。该项目将在课程项目中促进对研究生的培训，并将通过公开示范向社区进行宣传。

Cellular networks are challenged by the limited spectrum available at microwave frequencies. In the past several years, various technologies have been proposed to achieve ultra-high levels of spectral efficiency involving the use of multiple antennas, serving multiple users, and shrinking cell sizes. Many of these technologies have significant potential but do not provide the high data rates due to the limited spectrum available. An alternative is to use the millimeter wave (mmWave) band between 3-300 GHz to provide high bandwidth communication channels. Realizing mmWave cellular communication, however, requires addressing the fundamental difference between mmWave and microwave communication. mmWave networks will require high gain directional antennas at the transmitter and receiver to overcome path loss at higher frequencies and to ensure sufficient signal-to-noise-ratio at the receiver. These directional antennas must be implemented using a combination of analog and digital signal processing techniques, due to power hungry mixed signal hardware. The cellular systems must be designed to support highly directional transmission and reception from their inception, and must also deal with the increased impact of signal blockages. This research project will establish the potential of millimeter wave cellular networks by incorporating the key features and constraints of mmWave communication. To understand the potential of such networks, this project will develop mathematical tools to analyze the performance of large-scale millimeter wave cellular networks, explicitly incorporating directional antennas and blockages. To enable robust communication, this project will create communication strategies that are simultaneously suitable for the harsh millimeter wave propagation environment and the limited capabilities of millimeter wave hardware. To leverage potential coexistence with lower frequency signals, this project will investigate the design and analysis of a hybrid-access system that exploits the coexistence of microwave and mmWave cellular systems. A main theme in the research thrusts is to incorporate key features of mmWave communication into the algorithms and analysis. Broader impacts of the project's theory, algorithms, and architectures are expected in diverse areas. The mathematical tools developed in this research will impact the design and realization of cellular networks with directional communication. The signal processing algorithms based on array processing and stochastic geometry will pave the way for a new understanding of millimeter wave wireless communication. Industry impact will occur through the Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) industrial affiliates incorporating the results of the research into their wireless networking technologies. The project will foster the training of graduate students in course projects and will reach out to the community through public demonstrations.