Multi-Task Semantic Communications via Large Models

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize the design, optimization and management of next-generation communication systems. In this article, we explore the integration of large AI models (LAMs) into semantic communications (SemCom) by leveraging their multi-modal data processing and generation capabilities. Although LAMs bring unprecedented abilities to extract semantics from raw data, this integration entails multifaceted challenges including high resource demands, model complexity, and the need for adaptability across diverse modalities and tasks. To overcome these challenges, we propose a LAM-based multi-task SemCom (MTSC) architecture, which includes an adaptive model compression strategy and a federated split fine-tuning approach to facilitate the efficient deployment of LAM-based semantic models in resource-limited networks. Furthermore, a retrieval-augmented generation scheme is implemented to synthesize the most recent local and global knowledge bases to enhance the accuracy of semantic extraction and content generation, thereby improving the inference performance. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed LAM-based MTSC architecture, highlighting the performance enhancements across various downstream tasks under varying channel conditions.

Federated Intelligence: When Large AI Models Meet Federated Fine-Tuning and Collaborative Reasoning at the Network Edge

Large artificial intelligence (AI) models exhibit remarkable capabilities in various application scenarios, but deploying them at the network edge poses significant challenges due to issues such as data privacy, computational resources, and latency. In this paper, we explore federated fine-tuning and collaborative reasoning techniques to facilitate the implementation of large AI models in resource-constrained wireless networks. Firstly, promising applications of large AI models within specific domains are discussed. Subsequently, federated fine-tuning methods are proposed to adapt large AI models to specific tasks or environments at the network edge, effectively addressing the challenges associated with communication overhead and enhancing communication efficiency. These methodologies follow clustered, hierarchical, and asynchronous paradigms to effectively tackle privacy issues and eliminate data silos. Furthermore, to enhance operational efficiency and reduce latency, efficient frameworks for model collaborative reasoning are developed, which include decentralized horizontal collaboration, cloud-edge-end vertical collaboration, and multi-access collaboration. Next, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods in reducing the fine-tuning loss of large AI models across various downstream tasks. Finally, several open challenges and research opportunities are outlined.

Channel Estimation and Beamforming Design for MF-RIS-Aided Communication Systems

In this letter, we study the beamforming design for channel estimation of multi-functional reconfigurable intelligent surface (MF-RIS)-aided multi-user communications that supports simultaneous signal reflection, refraction, and amplification. A least square (LS) based channel estimator is proposed for MF-RIS by considering both the coupled MF-RIS beams and the introduced thermal noise. With the discrete fourier transform (DFT)-matrix, the MF-RIS beamforming design problem is simplified under the proposed LS channel estimator. The optimal MF-RIS beamforming design that achieves the Cram\'er-Rao lower bound (CRLB) of channel estimator is obtained with the proposed alternating optimization algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed beamforming design in reducing the impact of thermal noise.

Federated Split Learning with Model Pruning and Gradient Quantization in Wireless Networks

As a paradigm of distributed machine learning, federated learning typically requires all edge devices to train a complete model locally. However, with the increasing scale of artificial intelligence models, the limited resources on edge devices often become a bottleneck for efficient fine-tuning. To address this challenge, federated split learning (FedSL) implements collaborative training across the edge devices and the server through model splitting. In this paper, we propose a lightweight FedSL scheme, that further alleviates the training burden on resource-constrained edge devices by pruning the client-side model dynamicly and using quantized gradient updates to reduce computation overhead. Additionally, we apply random dropout to the activation values at the split layer to reduce communication overhead. We conduct theoretical analysis to quantify the convergence performance of the proposed scheme. Finally, simulation results verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed lightweight FedSL in wireless network environments.

Multi-Functional RIS Integrated Sensing and Communications for 6G Networks

In this paper, we propose a novel multi-functional reconfigurable intelligent surface (MF-RIS) that supports signal reflection, refraction, amplification, and target sensing simultaneously. Our MF-RIS aims to enhance integrated communication and sensing (ISAC) systems, particularly in multi-user and multi-target scenarios. Equipped with reflection and refraction components (i.e., amplifiers and phase shifters), MF-RIS is able to adjust the amplitude and phase shift of both communication and sensing signals on demand. Additionally, with the assistance of sensing elements, MF-RIS is capable of capturing the echo signals from multiple targets, thereby mitigating the signal attenuation typically associated with multi-hop links. We propose a MF-RIS-enabled multi-user and multi-target ISAC system, and formulate an optimization problem to maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of sensing targets. This problem involves jointly optimizing the transmit beamforming and MF-RIS configurations, subject to constraints on the communication rate, total power budget, and MF-RIS coefficients. We decompose the formulated non-convex problem into three sub-problems, and then solve them via an efficient iterative algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that: 1) The performance of MF-RIS varies under different operating protocols, and energy splitting (ES) exhibits the best performance in the considered MF-RIS-enabled multi-user multi-target ISAC system; 2) Under the same total power budget, the proposed MF-RIS with ES protocol attains 52.2%, 73.5% and 60.86% sensing SINR gains over active RIS, passive RIS, and simultaneously transmitting and reflecting RIS (STAR-RIS), respectively; 3) The number of sensing elements will no longer improve sensing performance after exceeding a certain number.

Two Birds With One Stone: Enhancing Communication and Sensing via Multi-Functional RIS

In this article, we propose new network architectures that integrate multi-functional reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (MF-RISs) into 6G networks to enhance both communication and sensing capabilities. Firstly, we elaborate how to leverage MF-RISs for improving communication performance in different communication modes including unicast, mulitcast, and broadcast and for different multi-access schemes. Next, we emphasize synergistic benefits of integrating MF-RISs with wireless sensing, enabling more accurate and efficient target detection in 6G networks. Furthermore, we present two schemes that utilize MF-RISs to enhance the performance of integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). We also study multi-objective optimization to achieve the optimal trade-off between communication and sensing performance. Finally, we present numerical results to show the performance improvements offered by MF-RISs compared to conventional RISs in ISAC. We also outline key research directions for MF-RIS under the ambition of 6G.

From Single to Multi-Functional RIS: Architecture, Key Technologies, Challenges, and Applications

Although reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have demonstrated the potential to boost network capacity and expand coverage by adjusting their electromagnetic properties, existing RIS architectures have certain limitations, such as double-fading attenuation and restricted half-space coverage. In this article, we delve into the progressive development from single to multi-functional RIS (MF-RIS) that enables simultaneous signal amplification, reflection, and refraction. We begin by detailing the hardware design and signal model that distinguish MF-RIS from traditional RISs. Subsequently, we introduce the key technologies underpinning MF-RIS-aided communications, along with the fundamental issues and challenges inherent to its deployment. We then outline the promising applications of MFRIS in the realm of communication, sensing, and computation systems, highlighting its transformative impact on these domains. Lastly, we present simulation results to demonstrate the superiority of MF-RIS in enhancing network performance in terms of spectral efficiency.

Multi-Objective Optimization-Based Waveform Design for Multi-User and Multi-Target MIMO-ISAC Systems

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) opens up new service possibilities for sixth-generation (6G) systems, where both communication and sensing (C&S) functionalities co-exist by sharing the same hardware platform and radio resource. In this paper, we investigate the waveform design problem in a downlink multi-user and multi-target ISAC system under different C&S performance preferences. The multi-user interference (MUI) may critically degrade the communication performance. To eliminate the MUI, we employ the constructive interference mechanism into the ISAC system, which saves the power budget for communication. However, due to the conflict between C&S metrics, it is intractable for the ISAC system to achieve the optimal performance of C&S objective simultaneously. Therefore, it is important to strike a tradeoff between C&S objectives. By virtue of the multi-objective optimization theory, we propose a weighted Tchebycheff-based transformation method to re-frame the C&S trade-off problem as a Pareto-optimal problem, thus effectively tackling the constraints in ISAC systems. Finally, simulation results reveal the trade-off relation between C&S performances, which provides insights for the flexible waveform design under different C&S performance preferences in MIMO-ISAC systems.

Secrecy Performance Analysis of Multi-Functional RIS-Assisted NOMA Networks

Although reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) can improve the secrecy communication performance of wireless users, it still faces challenges such as limited coverage and double-fading effect. To address these issues, in this paper, we utilize a novel multi-functional RIS (MF-RIS) to enhance the secrecy performance of wireless users, and investigate the physical layer secrecy problem in non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks. Specifically, we derive closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) and secrecy throughput of users in the MF-RIS-assisted NOMA networks with external and internal eavesdroppers. The asymptotic expressions for SOP and secrecy diversity order are also analyzed under high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. Additionally, we examine the impact of receiver hardware limitations and error transmission-induced imperfect successive interference cancellation (SIC) on the secrecy performance. Numerical results indicate that: i) under the same power budget, the secrecy performance achieved by MF-RIS significantly outperforms active RIS and simultaneously transmitting and reflecting RIS; ii) with increasing power budget, residual interference caused by imperfect SIC surpasses thermal noise as the primary factor affecting secrecy capacity; and iii) deploying additional elements at the MF-RIS brings significant secrecy enhancements for the external eavesdropping scenario, in contrast to the internal eavesdropping case.

Multi-Objective Optimization-based Transmit Beamforming for Multi-Target and Multi-User MIMO-ISAC Systems

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is an enabling technology for the sixth-generation mobile communications, which equips the wireless communication networks with sensing capabilities. In this paper, we investigate transmit beamforming design for multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO)-ISAC systems in scenarios with multiple radar targets and communication users. A general form of multi-target sensing mutual information (MI) is derived, along with its upper bound, which can be interpreted as the sum of individual single-target sensing MI. Additionally, this upper bound can be achieved by suppressing the cross-correlation among reflected signals from different targets, which aligns with the principles of adaptive MIMO radar. Then, we propose a multi-objective optimization framework based on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of each user and the tight upper bound of sensing MI, introducing the Pareto boundary to characterize the achievable communication-sensing performance boundary of the proposed ISAC system. To achieve the Pareto boundary, the max-min system utility function method is employed, while considering the fairness between communication users and radar targets. Subsequently, the bisection search method is employed to find a specific Pareto optimal solution by solving a series of convex feasible problems. Finally, simulation results validate that the proposed method achieves a better tradeoff between multi-user communication and multi-target sensing performance. Additionally, utilizing the tight upper bound of sensing MI as a performance metric can enhance the multi-target resolution capability and angle estimation accuracy.