Enabling Intelligent Pinpoint Space-Spectrum Utilization and Sharing, Supported by The National Science Foundation (ECCS Award 2128569)
   
Abstract: Future generations of communication systems need to support vast numbers of mobile devices that have different priorities in sharing the radio spectrum. To meet such a demand, this project goes beyond the traditional MIMO communications and explores a novel paradigm of wireless design based on multipath networks. The basic tasks of the project are 1) to estimate and to learn the possible spatial signal transmission paths among nodes that form the multipath network, 2) then to perform cross-layer design that includes signal paths selection, coding, broadcast and multiaccess transmissions, 3) and to undertake an experimental verification of the learnt multipath network using software defined radios. The expected result is a dramatic increase in the effectiveness of spectrum utilization and sharing. This project will benefit 5G and 6G system design (which would be part of the nation's infrastructure) as well as spectrum sharing with legacy systems.
The project will also help to support the effort of promoting and stimulating young students' interest in STEM topics.

In this project, new machine learning (ML)-assisted algorithms will be designed to estimate and to learn the multipath network by extending known super-resolution techniques for sparsity exploitation. These algorithms will take advantage of the fixed locations of base stations and infrastructure around them, and hence of repeated patterns of mobile terminals along sidewalks and roads, and in buildings, etc. These dynamic patterns will be learned at a high resolution, hence help obviating the need for expensive feedback of channel state information. The project will also address a rich set of important uplink and downlink system design problems, such as joint communication, coding, and networking optimizations. These problems are generated due to the new multipath network paradigm. The goal would be to set up and to maintain communication through many almost interference-free paths (thin as pins), thereby resulting in highly effective utilization and sharing of spectrum via a dense reuse of frequency across space, and the precise avoidance of interference to the primary users of that spectrum.

 
Research activities supported:
Distributed channel coding
Medium access control for distributed wireless networks
 
Related Publications:
2.
J. Luo, "A Distributed Medium Access Control Algorithm with an Enhanced Physical-Link Layer Interface," to appear in IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications.
1.
J. Luo, "Performance of Distributed Medium Access Control with an Enhanced Physical-Link Layer Interface,"IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, Glasgow, UK, March 2023.

 

Teaching and training activities:
Improved Signal Manipulation for Hearing Impaired (ECE 401/402, 2022, with Jordan DeCrescentis, Chester Labata)
 
Other broader impact activities:
Paper publication, conference presentations.
Integration of research results into ECE516 (Information Theory) and ECE303 (Introduction to Communication Principles).
Pariticipation in the educational reform project "Revolutionizing Engineering Education" (RED).
 
Students supported: Nazanin Mirhosseini