Evolving Sequences for Beyond-5G Machine-Type Communications (SORT)

具有特定结构特性的序列是每个通信/雷达系统设计的核心。例如，通过发送发射机和接收机都已知的良好签名序列，能够估计复杂的无线信道，测量周围环境，找到延迟分组的起始点，并从噪声和干扰中恢复数据符号。另一方面，传统的序列理论受到现代机器类型通信系统不断增长的需求的巨大挑战。随着数以百亿计的通信设备、传感器、平板电脑、车辆和机器人实现无线连接，迫切需要开发新的序列及其相关的处理算法，以增强许多关键性能指标，例如前所未有的系统鲁棒性、降低的通信延迟、更快的数据速率、更高的能效和更好的传感能力。因此，SORT项目的使命是从根本上重新思考、重新利用和重新设计序列，以提供"真正随时随地"的机器类型通信服务。具体来说，我们的目标是一个专用的序列框架，以实现1）大规模连接，每个用户都可以在数据包到达后立即进行传输; 2）用于关键任务数据服务的超可靠和低延迟通信; 3）集成传感和通信，以增强环境意识。借助先进的代数和优化工具，我们将设计，分析和评估几种新类型的序列，其结构特性相对于上述应用场景进行了优化。对于面向实用的研究成果，将进行概念验证硬件原型设计，以检查我们的新序列和由此产生的机器类型通信解决方案的有效性。作为一个国际合作项目，SORT将与来自西南交通大学、南洋理工大学和卑尔根大学以及三星剑桥电信公司的三位世界领先的研究人员及其团队合作。鉴于该项目的跨学科性质，团队成员的互补技能，以及我们新颖的序列角度，SORT的突破性研究成果是可以预期的。这些将反过来影响未来移动的系统的发展，加速技术商业化，创造更多高薪工作，并最终加强英国作为全球领导者的角色，在学术和经济上。

Sequences with certain structural properties lie at the very heart of every communication/radar system design. For example, by sending a good signature sequence which is known to both transmitter and receiver, one is able to estimate the complex wireless channels, measure the surrounding environment, find the starting point of the delayed packets, and recover the data symbols from noise and interference. On the other hand, legacy sequence theory is drastically challenged by the ever-growing requirements of the modern machine-type communication systems. With tens of billions of communication devices, sensors, tablets, vehicles, and robots getting connected wirelessly, it is urgent to develop new sequences and their associated processing algorithms in order to enhance a number of key performance indicators, such as unprecedented system robustness, reduced communication latency, faster data rates, higher energy efficiency, and improved sensing capabilities. The mission of the SORT project is thus for a fundamental rethinking, repurposing, and redesign of sequences to deliver "truly anytime and anywhere" machine-type communication services. Specifically, we target a dedicated sequence framework to enable 1) massive connectivity where every user can transmit immediately after the packet arrival; 2) ultra-reliable & low-latency communication for mission-critical data services and 3) integrated sensing and communication to attain enhanced environmental awareness. With the aid of advanced algebraic and optimization tools, we will design, analyse, and evaluate several new types of sequences whose structural properties are optimized with respect to the aforementioned application scenarios. For practicality-oriented research outcomes, proof-of-concept hardware prototyping will be carried out to examine the effectiveness of our new sequences and the resultant machine-type communication solutions. As an international collaboration project, SORT will work with three world-leading researchers and their groups from Southwest Jiaotong University, Nanyang Technological University, and University of Bergen, as well as Samsung Cambridge in telecommunication. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project, the complementary skills of the team members, as well as our novel sequence angle, ground-breaking research outcomes of SORT are anticipated. These will in turn influence the evolution of future mobile systems, accelerate the technology commercialization, create more high-salary jobs, and ultimately reinforce the UK's role as a global leader, academically and economically.