Programmable Metasurface Based Multicast Systems: Design and Analysis

This paper considers a multi-antenna multicast system with programmable metasurface (PMS) based transmitter. Taking into account of the finite-resolution phase shifts of PMSs, a novel beam training approach is proposed, which achieves comparable performance as the exhaustive beam searching method but with much lower time overhead. Then, a closed-form expression for the achievable multicast rate is presented, which is valid for arbitrary system configurations. In addition, for certain asymptotic scenario, simple approximated expressions for the multicase rate are derived. Closed-form solutions are obtained for the optimal power allocation scheme, and it is shown that equal power allocation is optimal when the pilot power or the number of reflecting elements is sufficiently large. However, it is desirable to allocate more power to weaker users when there are a large number of RF chains. The analytical findings indicate that, with large pilot power, the multicast rate is determined by the weakest user. Also, increasing the number of radio frequency (RF) chains or reflecting elements can significantly improve the multicast rate, and as the phase shift number becomes larger, the multicast rate improves first and gradually converges to a limit. Moreover, increasing the number of users would significantly degrade the multicast rate, but this rate loss can be compensated by implementing a large number of reflecting elements.

A Deep Learning Framework for Optimization of MISO Downlink Beamforming

Beamforming is an effective means to improve the quality of the received signals in multiuser multiple-input-single-output (MISO) systems. Traditionally, finding the optimal beamforming solution relies on iterative algorithms, which introduces high computational delay and is thus not suitable for real-time implementation. In this paper, we propose a deep learning framework for the optimization of downlink beamforming. In particular, the solution is obtained based on convolutional neural networks and exploitation of expert knowledge, such as the uplink-downlink duality and the known structure of optimal solutions. Using this framework, we construct three beamforming neural networks (BNNs) for three typical optimization problems, i.e., the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) balancing problem, the power minimization problem, and the sum rate maximization problem. For the former two problems the BNNs adopt the supervised learning approach, while for the sum rate maximization problem a hybrid method of supervised and unsupervised learning is employed. Simulation results show that the BNNs can achieve near-optimal solutions to the SINR balancing and power minimization problems, and a performance close to that of the weighted minimum mean squared error algorithm for the sum rate maximization problem, while in all cases enjoy significantly reduced computational complexity. In summary, this work paves the way for fast realization of optimal beamforming in multiuser MISO systems.

Content Placement in Cache-Enabled Sub-6 GHz and Millimeter-Wave Multi-antenna Dense Small Cell Networks

This paper studies the performance of cache-enabled dense small cell networks consisting of multi-antenna sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave base stations. Different from the existing works which only consider a single antenna at each base station, the optimal content placement is unknown when the base stations have multiple antennas. We first derive the successful content delivery probability by accounting for the key channel features at sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies. The maximization of the successful content delivery probability is a challenging problem. To tackle it, we first propose a constrained cross-entropy algorithm which achieves the near-optimal solution with moderate complexity. We then develop another simple yet effective heuristic probabilistic content placement scheme, termed two-stair algorithm, which strikes a balance between caching the most popular contents and achieving content diversity. Numerical results demonstrate the superior performance of the constrained cross-entropy method and that the two-stair algorithm yields significantly better performance than only caching the most popular contents. The comparisons between the sub-6 GHz and mmWave systems reveal an interesting tradeoff between caching capacity and density for the mmWave system to achieve similar performance as the sub-6 GHz system.

Secure Communications in Millimeter Wave Ad Hoc Networks

Wireless networks with directional antennas, like millimeter wave (mmWave) networks, have enhanced security. For a large-scale mmWave ad hoc network in which eavesdroppers are randomly located, however, eavesdroppers can still intercept the confidential messages, since they may reside in the signal beam. This paper explores the potential of physical layer security in mmWave ad hoc networks. Specifically, we characterize the impact of mmWave channel characteristics, random blockages, and antenna gains on the secrecy performance. For the special case of uniform linear array (ULA), a tractable approach is proposed to evaluate the average achievable secrecy rate. We also characterize the impact of artificial noise in such networks. Our results reveal that in the low transmit powerregime, the use of low mmWave frequency achieves better secrecy performance, and when increasing transmit power, a transition from low mmWave frequency to high mmWave frequency is demanded for obtaining a higher secrecy rate. More antennas at the transmitting nodes are needed to decrease the antenna gain obtained by the eavesdroppers when using ULA. Eavesdroppers can intercept more information by using a wide beam pattern. Furthermore, the use of artificial noise may be ineffective for enhancing the secrecy rate.

Wireless Power Transfer in Massive MIMO Aided HetNets with User Association

This paper explores the potential of wireless power transfer (WPT) in massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) aided heterogeneous networks (HetNets), where massive MIMO is applied in the macrocells, and users aim to harvest as much energy as possible and reduce the uplink path loss for enhancing their information transfer. By addressing the impact of massive MIMO on the user association, we compare and analyze two user association schemes. We adopt the linear maximal ratio transmission beam-forming for massive MIMO power transfer to recharge users. By deriving new statistical properties, we obtain the exact and asymptotic expressions for the average harvested energy. Then we derive the average uplink achievable rate under the harvested energy constraint.