Indoor Localization of Smartphones Thanks to Zero-Energy-Devices Beacons

In this paper, we present a new ultra-low power method of indoor localization of smartphones (SM) based on zero-energy-devices (ZEDs) beacons instead of active wireless beacons. Each ZED is equipped with a unique identification number coded into a bit-sequence, and its precise position on the map is recorded. An SM inside the building is assumed to have access to the map of ZEDs. The ZED backscatters ambient waves from base stations (BSs) of the cellular network. The SM detects the ZED message in the variations of the received ambient signal from the BS. We accurately simulate the ambient waves from a BS of Orange 4G commercial network, inside an existing large building covered with ZED beacons, thanks to a ray-tracing-based propagation simulation tool. Our first performance evaluation study shows that the proposed localization system enables us to determine in which room a SM is located, in a realistic and challenging propagation scenario.

Zero-energy Devices for 6G: Technical Enablers at a Glance

Low-cost, resource-constrained, maintenance-free, and energy-harvesting (EH) Internet of Things (IoT) devices, referred to as zero-energy devices (ZEDs), are rapidly attracting attention from industry and academia due to their myriad of applications. To date, such devices remain primarily unsupported by modern IoT connectivity solutions due to their intrinsic fabrication, hardware, deployment, and operation limitations, while lacking clarity on their key technical enablers and prospects. Herein, we address this by discussing the main characteristics and enabling technologies of ZEDs within the next generation of mobile networks, specifically focusing on unconventional EH sources, multi-source EH, power management, energy storage solutions, manufacturing material and practices, backscattering, and low-complexity receivers. Moreover, we highlight the need for lightweight and energy-aware computing, communication, and scheduling protocols, while discussing potential approaches related to TinyML, duty cycling, and infrastructure enablers like radio frequency wireless power transfer and wake-up protocols. Challenging aspects and open research directions are identified and discussed in all the cases. Finally, we showcase an experimental ZED proof-of-concept related to ambient cellular backscattering.

Experimental Demonstration of 3D Reflected Beamforming at sub6GHz thanks to Varactor Based Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a promising solution to boost coverage sustainably by reflecting waves from a transmitter to a receiver and acting as a low-power and passive relay. In this paper, for the first time, we demonstrate experimentally that a reconfigurable intelligent surface designed for sub6GHz, and using varactor technology, can perform three-dimensional reflective beamforming. This result is achieved with a RIS prototype of 984 unit-cells, thanks to a compact control circuit individually addressing and configuring the voltage of each unit-cell, with a distinct voltage. To our knowledge, this prototype configures 17 to 70 times more distinct voltages than in the state-of-the-art. The experimental results in an indoor environment show a 10 dB gain. They also show, for the first time, that producing such a new prototype is feasible with minimal energy footprint and environmental impact, thanks to refurbishing. Indeed, a reflectarray antenna originally designed for three-dimensional beamforming has been turned into a RIS.

Electromagnetic Field Exposure Avoidance thanks to Non-Intended User Equipment and RIS

On the one hand, there is a growing demand for high throughput which can be satisfied thanks to the deployment of new networks using massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and beamforming. On the other hand, in some countries or cities, there is a demand for arbitrarily low electromagnetic field exposure (EMFE) of people not concerned by the ongoing communication, which slows down the deployment of new networks. Recently, it has been proposed to take the opportunity, when designing the future 6th generation (6G), to offer, in addition to higher throughput, a new type of service: arbitrarily low EMFE. Recent works have shown that a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), jointly optimized with the base station (BS) beamforming can improve the received throughput at the desired location whilst reducing EMFE everywhere. In this paper, we introduce a new concept of a non-intended user (NIU). An NIU is a user of the network who requests low EMFE when he/she is not downloading/uploading data. An NIU lets his/her device, called NIU equipment (NIUE), exchange some control signaling and pilots with the network, to help the network avoid exposing NIU to waves that are transporting data for another user of the network: the intended user (IU), whose device is called IU equipment (IUE). Specifically, we propose several new schemes to maximize the IU throughput under an EMFE constraint at the NIU (in practice, an interference constraint at the NIUE). Several propagation scenarios are investigated. Analytical and numerical results show that proper power allocation and beam optimization can remarkably boost the EMFE-constrained system's performance with limited complexity and channel information.

Dual Gradient Descent EMF-Aware MU-MIMO Beamforming in RIS-Aided 6G Networks

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) is one of the key technologies for the upcoming 6th Generation (6G) communications, which can improve the signal strength at the receivers by adding artificial propagation paths. In the context of Downlink (DL) Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) communications, designing an appropriate Beamforming (BF) scheme to take full advantage of this reconfigured propagation environment and improve the network capacity is a major challenge. Due to the spatial dimension provided by MIMO systems, independent data streams can be transmitted to multiple users simultaneously on the same radio resources. It is important to note that serving the same subset of users over a period of time may lead to undesired areas where the average Electromagnetic Field Exposure (EMFE) exceeds regulatory limits. To address this challenge, in this paper, we propose a Dual Gradient Descent (Dual-GD)-based Electromagnetic Field (EMF)-aware MU-MIMO BF scheme that aims to optimize the overall capacity under EMFE constraints in RIS-aided 6G cellular networks.

EMF-Aware MU-MIMO Beamforming in RIS-Aided Cellular Networks

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) are one of the key emerging 6th Generation (6G) technologies that are expected to improve the link budgets between transmitters and receivers by adding artificial propagation paths. In such re-configured propagation environment, Downlink (DL) Multi-User Multi-Input Multi-Output (MU-MIMO) brings capacity improvement to cellular networks. It benefits from the spatial dimension offered by MIMO systems to enable simultaneous transmission of independent data streams to multiple users on the same radio resources by applying appropriate Beamforming (BF) schemes. However, in some cases, serving the same subset of users for a long period of time may cause some undesired regions where the average Electromagnetic Field Exposure (EMFE) exceeds the regulatory limits. To address this challenge, we propose in this paper a novel Electromagnetic Field (EMF) aware MU-MIMO BF scheme that aims to optimize the overall capacity under EMF constraints in RIS-aided cellular networks.

Creating and Operating Areas With Reduced Electromagnetic Field Exposure Thanks to Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Mobile network operators must provide a target quality of service within a target coverage area. Each generation of networks from the 2nd to the 5th has reached higher quality-of-service (QoS) targets and coverage area sizes. However, the deployment of new networks is sometimes challenged by Electromagnetic Field (EMF) exposure constraints. In this paper, to take into account these constraints, we assess the novel and recent concept of Reduced EMF Exposure Area. Such an area would be created and operated by a mobile network operator upon the request of its customers. In such an area, customers keep enjoying high data rate internet access while getting a reduced EMF exposure. To ensure this EMF exposure reduction, we propose to deploy Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) connected to the mobile network and exploit a joint RIS-M-MIMO uplink beamforming scheme. We use our ray-tracing-based simulation tool to visualize and characterize the Reduced EMF Exposure Area in a challenging environment in terms of propagation. Our simulations show that an operator can create and operate such an area under the condition that it carefully places the RIS in the environment.

A Novel RIS-Aided EMF-Aware Beamforming Using Directional Spreading, Truncation and Boosting

This paper addresses a drawback of massive multiple-input multiple-output Maximum Ratio Transmission beamforming. In some propagation conditions, when the base station serves the same target user equipment for a long period, it reduces the transmit power (and degrades the received power) to avoid creating high exposure regions located in the vicinity of the antenna and concentrated in few directions (corresponding to the best propagation paths between the antenna and the receiver). In this paper, we propose a novel electromagnetic field aware beamforming scheme, which (i) spreads the beamforming radiation pattern in the angular domain by adding artificial propagation paths thanks to reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, (ii) truncates the pattern in strong directions, and (iii) boosts it in weak directions. Compared to existing solutions, it maximizes the received power. However, it also consumes more power. Finally, truncation alone is the best trade-off between received power and energy efficiency, under exposure constrain.

A Novel RIS-Aided EMF Exposure Aware Approach using an Angularly Equalized Virtual Propagation Channel

Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output systems with beamforming are key components of the 5th and the future 6th generation of networks. However, in some cases, where the BS serves the same user for a long period, and in some propagation conditions, such systems reduce their transmit power to avoid creating unwanted regions of electromagnetic field exposure exceeding the regulatory threshold, beyond the circle around the BS that limits the distance between people and the BS antenna. Such power reduction strongly degrades the received power at the target user. Recently, exposition aware beamforming schemes aided by self-tuning reconfigurable intelligent surfaces derived from maximum ratio transmission beamforming, have been proposed: truncated beamforming. However, such scheme is highly complex. In this paper, we propose a novel and low complexity reconfigurable intelligent surface aided beamforming scheme called Equalized beamforming, which applies maximum ratio transmission to an angularly equalized virtual propagation channel. Our simulations show that our proposed scheme outperforms the reduced beamforming scheme, whilst complying with the exposition regulation.

Polarization-Based Reconfigurable Tags for Robust Ambient Backscatter Communications

Ambient backscatter communication is an emerging and promising low-energy technology for the Internet of Things. In such a system, a tag sends a binary message to a reader by backscattering a radio frequency signal generated by an ambient source. The tag can operate without battery and without generating additional radio waves. However, the tag-to-reader link suffers from the source-to-reader interference. In this paper, we propose a polarization-based reconfigurable antenna in order to improve the robustness of the tag-to-reader link against the source-to-reader direct interference. More precisely, we compare different types of tags' antennas, different tags' encoding schemes, and different detectors at the reader. By using analysis, numerical simulations, and experiments, we show that a polarization-based reconfigurable tag with four polarization directions significantly outperforms a non-reconfigurable tag, and provides almost the same performance as an ideal reconfigurable tag with a large number of reconfigurable polarization patterns.