EARS: Collaborative Research: Real-time Control of Dense, Mobile, Millimeter Wave Networks Using a Programmable Architecture

世界各地对无线宽带的需求都在增长。获得高速无线通信对任何现代社会的运行都变得至关重要。对频谱日益增长的需求需要新的解决方案，能够满足未来无线服务预期的高密度和高移动性。该项目解决了全球对无处不在的无线宽带的需求，使新的频率，特别是毫米波段能够在未来的网络中使用。本项目将开发一种能够支持适应不同网络条件的新型敏捷体系结构，以使网络在以无线设备高密度和移动性为特征的高动态环境中高效、无缝地运行。这种架构可以在没有昂贵基础设施的情况下广泛使用毫米波网络，从而在全国范围内提供低成本的宽带接入。在这个项目中开发的知识将被整合到课程设置和本科教育中。拟议工作产生的所有教育材料将与其他大学广泛共享。该提案探讨了毫米波频段作为无线服务日益增长的流量需求(网络密度)和移动性不断提高的解决方案所具有的潜力。为了实现网络一级的适应，拟议的工作将使用软件定义联网(SDN)的工具。SDN架构允许控制器运行应用程序、与数据库和基于云的服务器交互，并使无线电适应不断变化的信道条件。毫米波网络所需的灵活性和适应性水平使SDN成为一种天然的选择。这项工作解决了阻碍毫米波无线宽带系统部署的理论和实验问题。具体地说，该项目将重点关注网络级优化与物理层通信、信道探测和控制之间的相互作用。优化框架以可编程性为基础，这将由项目中开发的SDN框架实现。SDN将与基于云的多层无线电环境图(ML-REM)对接，该地图建立在3.5 GHz频段首创的启用数据库的辅助信息技术的基础上。通过传播测量获得的空中数据将被用于构建ML-REM。该研究将在SDN和软件定义无线电(SDR)联合试验台上进行实验测试，并将实验结果整合到理论模型中进行持续改进和测试。

The demand for wireless broadband is growing across the world. Access to high-rate wireless communication is becoming critical to the operation of any modern society. The increasing demand for spectrum requires novel solutions, capable of addressing the high-density and high-mobility expected of future wireless services. This project addresses the global need for ubiquitous wireless broadband by enabling new frequencies, specifically, the millimeter wave bands to be used in future networks. A novel agile architecture capable of supporting adaptation to varying network conditions will be developed in this project to enable efficient and seamless network operation in highly-dynamic environments characterized by high density and mobility of wireless devices. This architecture could provide low-cost broadband access nationwide by enabling the widespread use of millimeter wave networks without expensive infrastructure. The knowledge developed in this project will be integrated into course offerings and undergraduate education. All educational materials resulting from the proposed work will be widely shared with other universities. This proposal explores the potential offered by millimeter wave bands as a solution to the increasing traffic demand (network density) and increasing mobility of wireless services. To enable a network-level adaptation, the proposed work will use the tools of software-defined networking (SDN). An SDN architecture allows controllers to run applications, interface with database and cloud-based servers, and adapt the radios to changing channel conditions. The level of flexibility and adaptability required for millimeter wave networks make SDN a natural fit. This work addresses the theoretical and experimental issues that are impeding the deployment of millimeter wave wireless broadband systems. Specifically, this project will focus on the interplay between network-level optimization and physical layer communication, channel sounding, and control. The optimization framework is based on programmability, which will be enabled by the SDN framework developed in the project. The SDN will interface with a cloud-based Multi-Layer Radio Environment Map (ML-REM) that builds upon the database-enabled side information techniques pioneered for the 3.5 GHz band. Over-the-air data obtained through propagation measurements will be used to construct the ML-REM. The research will be tested experimentally on a joint SDN and software defined radio (SDR) testbed, with the experimental results being integrated into theoretical models for continuous improvement and testing.