Abstract:Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology plays a crucial role in vehicular networks. However, the communication channel within this context exhibits time-varying characteristics, and potential targets may move rapidly, resulting in double dynamics. These presents significant challenges for real-time ISAC precoding design that have not been thoroughly explored. While optimization-based precoding methods have been extensively studied, they are computationally complex and heavily rely on perfect prior information that is rarely available in situations with double dynamics. In this paper, we propose a synesthesia of machine (SoM)-enhanced precoding paradigm, where the base station leverages various modalities such as positioning and channel information to adapt to double dynamics, and effectively utilizes environmental information to stretch ISAC performance boundaries through a deep reinforcement learning framework. Additionally, a parameter-shared actor-critic architecture is tailored to expedite training in complex state and action spaces. Extensive experimental validation has demonstrated the multifaceted superiority of our method over existing approaches.
Abstract:Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) has been utilized for optimizing wireless communications due to its ability to detect the environment. This paper explores the use of LiDAR in channel estimation for wideband multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems and introduces a LiDAR-enhanced Channel State Information (CSI) learning network (LE-CLN). By utilizing user positioning information, LE-CLN first calculates user-localized over-complete angular measurements. It then investigates the correlation between LiDAR and CSI, transforming raw LiDAR data into a low-complexity format embedded with signal propagation characteristics. LE-CLN also adapts the use of LiDAR based on channel conditions through attention mechanisms. Thanks to the unique wireless features offered by LiDAR, LE-CLN achieves higher estimation accuracy and spectrum efficiency compared to benchmarks, particularly in latency-sensitive applications where pilot transmissions are expected to be reduced.
Abstract:This work aims to tackle the labor-intensive and resource-consuming task of indoor positioning by proposing an efficient approach. The proposed approach involves the introduction of a semi-supervised learning (SSL) with a biased teacher (SSLB) algorithm, which effectively utilizes both labeled and unlabeled channel data. To reduce measurement expenses, unlabeled data is generated using an updated channel simulator (UCHS), and then weighted by adaptive confidence values to simplify the tuning of hyperparameters. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed strategy achieves superior performance while minimizing measurement overhead and training expense compared to existing benchmarks, offering a valuable and practical solution for indoor positioning.
Abstract:The AI-enabled autoencoder has demonstrated great potential in channel state information (CSI) feedback in frequency division duplex (FDD) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. However, this method completely changes the existing feedback strategies, making it impractical to deploy in recent years. To address this issue, this paper proposes a channel modeling aided data augmentation method based on a limited number of field channel data. Specifically, the user equipment (UE) extracts the primary stochastic parameters of the field channel data and transmits them to the base station (BS). The BS then updates the typical TR 38.901 model parameters with the extracted parameters. In this way, the updated channel model is used to generate the dataset. This strategy comprehensively considers the dataset collection, model generalization, model monitoring, and so on. Simulations verify that our proposed strategy can significantly improve performance compared to the benchmarks.
Abstract:Channel prediction is an effective approach for reducing the feedback or estimation overhead in massive multi-input multi-output (m-MIMO) systems. However, existing channel prediction methods lack precision due to model mismatch errors or network generalization issues. Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated powerful modeling and generalization abilities, and have been successfully applied to cross-modal tasks, including the time series analysis. Leveraging the expressive power of LLMs, we propose a pre-trained LLM-empowered channel prediction method (LLM4CP) to predict the future downlink channel state information (CSI) sequence based on the historical uplink CSI sequence. We fine-tune the network while freezing most of the parameters of the pre-trained LLM for better cross-modality knowledge transfer. To bridge the gap between the channel data and the feature space of the LLM, preprocessor, embedding, and output modules are specifically tailored by taking into account unique channel characteristics. Simulations validate that the proposed method achieves SOTA prediction performance on full-sample, few-shot, and generalization tests with low training and inference costs.
Abstract:Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology is essential for enabling the vehicular networks. However, the communication channel in this scenario exhibits time-varying characteristics, and the potential targets may move rapidly, creating a doubly-dynamic phenomenon. This nature poses a challenge for real-time precoder design. While optimization-based solutions are widely researched, they are complex and heavily rely on perfect prior information, which is impractical in double dynamics. To address this challenge, we propose using constrained deep reinforcement learning (CDRL) to facilitate dynamic updates to the ISAC precoder design. Additionally, the primal dual-deep deterministic policy gradient (PD-DDPG) and Wolpertinger architecture are tailored to efficiently train the algorithm under complex constraints and variable numbers of users. The proposed scheme not only adapts to the dynamics based on observations but also leverages environmental information to enhance performance and reduce complexity. Its superiority over existing candidates has been validated through experiments.
Abstract:Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) emerges as a promising technology for B5G/6G, particularly in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) band. However, the widely utilized hybrid architecture in mmWave systems compromises multiplexing gain due to the constraints of limited radio frequency chains. Moreover, additional sensing functionalities exacerbate the impairment of spectrum efficiency (SE). In this paper, we present an optimized beam pattern modulation-embedded ISAC (BPM-ISAC) transceiver design, which spares one RF chain for sensing and the others for communication. To compensate for the reduced SE, index modulation across communication beams is applied. We formulate an optimization problem aimed at minimizing the mean squared error (MSE) of the sensing beampattern, subject to a symbol MSE constraint. This problem is then solved by sequentially optimizing the analog and digital parts. Both the multi-aperture structure (MAS) and the multi-beam structure (MBS) are considered for the design of the analog part. We conduct theoretical analysis on the asymptotic pairwise error probability (APEP) and the Cram\'er-Rao bound (CRB) of direction of arrival (DoA) estimation. Numerical simulations validate the overall enhanced ISAC performance over existing alternatives.
Abstract:Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) is a critical enabler for emerging 6G applications, and at its core lies in the dual-functional waveform design. While orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has been a popular basic waveform, its primitive version falls short in sensing due to the inherent unregulated auto-correlation properties. Furthermore, the sensitivity to Doppler shift hinders its broader applications in dynamic scenarios. To address these issues, we propose a superposed index-modulated OFDM (S-IM-OFDM). The proposed scheme improves the sensing performance without excess power consumption by translating the energy efficiency of IM-OFDM onto sensing-oriented signals over OFDM. Also, it maintains excellent communication performance in time-varying channels by leveraging the sensed parameters to compensate for Doppler. Compared to conventional OFDM, the proposed S-IM-OFDM waveform exhibits better sensing capabilities and wider applicability in dynamic scenarios. Both theoretical analyses and simulations corroborate its dual benefits.
Abstract:Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) emerges as a promising technology for B5G/6G, particularly in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) band. However, the widespread adoption of hybrid architecture in mmWave systems compromises multiplexing gain due to limited radio-frequency chains, resulting in mediocre performance when embedding sensing functionality. To avoid sacrificing the spectrum efficiency in hybrid structures while addressing performance bottlenecks in its extension to ISAC, we present an optimized beam pattern modulation-embedded ISAC (BPM-ISAC). BPM-ISAC applies index modulation over beamspace by selectively activating communication beams, aiming to minimize sensing beampattern mean squared error (MSE) under communication MSE constraints through dedicated hybrid transceiver design. Optimization involves the analog part through a min-MSE-based beam selection algorithm, followed by the digital part using an alternating optimization algorithm. Convergence and asymptotic pairwise error probability (APEP) analyses accompany numerical simulations, validating its overall enhanced ISAC performance over existing alternatives.
Abstract:The future of vehicular communication networks relies on mmWave massive multi-input-multi-output antenna arrays for intensive data transfer and massive vehicle access. However, reliable vehicle-to-infrastructure links require narrow beam alignment, which traditionally involves excessive signaling overhead. To address this issue, we propose a novel proactive beamforming scheme that integrates multi-modal sensing and communications via Multi-Modal Feature Fusion Network (MMFF-Net), which is composed of multiple neural network components with distinct functions. Unlike existing methods that rely solely on communication processing, our approach obtains comprehensive environmental features to improve beam alignment accuracy. We verify our scheme on the ViWi dataset, which we enriched with realistic vehicle drifting behavior. Our proposed MMFF-Net achieves more accurate and stable angle prediction, which in turn increases the achievable rates and reduces the communication system outage probability. Even in complex dynamic scenarios, robust prediction results can be guaranteed, demonstrating the feasibility and practicality of the proposed proactive beamforming approach.