Survey of ICIC techniques in LTE networks under various mobile environment parameters

LTE networks’ main challenge is to efficiently use the available spectrum, and to provide satisfying quality of service for mobile users. However, using the same bandwidth among adjacent cells leads to occurrence of Inter-cell Interference especially at the cell-edge. Basic interference mitigation approaches consider bandwidth partitioning techniques between adjacent cells, such as frequency reuse of factor m schemes, to minimize cell-edge interference. Although SINR values are improved, such techniques lead to significant reduction in the maximum achievable data rate. Several improvements have been proposed to enhance the performance of frequency reuse schemes, where restrictions are made on resource blocks usage, power allocation, or both. Nevertheless, bandwidth partitioning methods still affect the maximum achievable throughput. In this proposal, we intend to perform a comprehensive survey on Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) techniques, and we study their performance while putting into consideration various design parameters. This study is implemented throughout intensive system level simulations under several parameters such as different network loads, radio conditions, and user distributions. Simulation results show the advantages and the limitations of each technique compared to frequency reuse-1 model. Thus, we are able to identify the most suitable ICIC technique for each network scenario.     

Environmentally Friendly Graphene Inks for Touch Screen Sensors

Graphene-based materials have attracted significant attention in many technological fields, but scaling up graphene-based technologies still faces substantial challenges. High-throughput top-down methods generally require hazardous, toxic, and high-boiling-point solvents. Here, an efficient and inexpensive strategy is proposed to produce graphene dispersions by liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) through a combination of shear-mixing (SM) and tip sonication (TS) techniques, yielding highly concentrated graphene inks compatible with spray coating. The quality of graphene flakes (e.g., lateral size and thickness) and their concentration in the dispersions are compared using different spectroscopic and microscopy techniques. Several approaches (individual SM and TS, and their combination) are tested in three solvents (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, and cyrene). Interestingly, the combination of SM and TS in cyrene yields high-quality graphene dispersions, overcoming the environmental issues linked to the other two solvents. Starting from the cyrene dispersion, a graphene-based ink is prepared to spray-coat flexible electrodes and assemble a touch screen prototype. The electrodes feature a low sheet resistance (290 Ω □⁻¹) and high optical transmittance (78%), which provide the prototype with a high signal-to-noise ratio (14 dB) and multi-touch functionality (up to four simultaneous touches). These results illustrate a potential pathway toward the integration of LPE-graphene in commercial flexible electronics.     

Semi-blind channel estimation based on modified CMA and unitary scrambling for massive MIMO systems

Pilot contamination is one of the main impairments in multi-cell massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output systems. In order to improve the channel estimation in this context, we propose to use a semi-blind channel estimator based on the constant modulus algorithm (CMA). We consider an enhanced version of the CMA namely the Modified CMA which modifies the cost function of the CMA algorithm to the sum of cost functions for real and imaginary parts. Due to pilot contamination, the channel estimator may estimate the channel of a contaminating user instead of that of the user of interest (the user for which the Base Station wants to estimate the channel and then the data). To avoid this, we propose to scramble the users sequences before transmission. We consider different methods to perform unitary scrambling based on rotating the transmitted symbols (one Dimensional (1-D) scrambling) and using unitary matrices (two-Dimensional (2-D) scrambling). At the base station, the received sequence of the user of interest is descrambled leading to a better convergence of the channel estimator. We also consider the case where the Automatic Repeat reQuest protocol is used. In this case, using scrambling leads to a significant gain in terms of BLock Error Rate due to the change of the contaminating users data from one transmission to another induced by scrambling.

     

Performance analysis of selective cooperation in amplify‐and‐forward relay networks over identical Nakagami‐m channels

In cooperative communications, multiple relays between a source and a destination can increase the diversity gain. Because all the nodes must use orthogonal channels, multiple‐relay cooperation becomes spectrally inefficient. Therefore, a bestrelay selection scheme was recently proposed. In this paper, we analyzed the performance of this scheme for a system with the relays operating in amplify‐and‐forward mode over identical Nakagami‐m channels using an exact source–relay–destination signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).We derived accurate closed‐form expressions for various system parameters including the probability density function of end‐to‐end SNR, the average output SNR, the bit error probability, and the channel capacity. The analytical results were verified through Monte Carlo simulations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An autonomous controller for improved dynamic performance of parallel-connected,single-phase inverters

A new control technique is presented for the parallel connection of distributed generation inverters. The proposed control technique is based on a modification of the power angle droop control method, and uses only locally measured feedback signals. An improvement in transient response is achieved because the real and imaginary components of the output current are used when deriving the power angle droop controller. The method achieves good active and reactive power sharing and minimises circulating current between parallel connected units. Improved transient response is obtained whilst maintaining power sharing precision or output voltage and frequency accuracy. Simulation and experimental results validate that performance is better than that attained with conventional droop-based approaches.     

A Beta basis function neural network in CMOS subthreshold mode

Beta basis function neural networks (BBFNNs) are powerful systems for learning and universal approximation. In this paper, we present a hardware implementation of the Beta neuron using the CMOS subthreshold mode. We describe the low power–low voltage analogue Beta neuron circuit. Three main modules are used to realize the electronic Beta function: a logarithmic currentto-voltage converter, a multiplier and an exponential voltage-to-current converter. Simulation results show the validity of our neural hardware implementation. The parameters of the electronic Beta function are controlled independently by current sources. This analogue implementation could be used easily to realize analogue BBFNNs.     

Performance evaluation of an efficient reduced-complexity time synchronization approach for OFDM systems

This paper presents a performance analysis of a recently proposed preamble-based reduced-complexity (RC) two-stage synchronization technique. The preamble, composed of two identical subsequences, is first used to determine an uncertainty interval based on Cox and Schmidl algorithm. Then, a differential correlation-based metric is carried using a new sequence obtained by element wise multiplication of the preamble subsequence and a shifted version of it. This second step is performed to fine tune the coarse time estimate, by carrying the differential correlation-based metric over the uncertainty interval of limited width around the coarse estimate, thus leading to low computational load. In this paper, we first discuss some complexity issues of the RC approach compared to previously proposed algorithms. Then, we study the effect of the training sequence class and length choices on the synchronization performance in the case of multipath channels. The impact of the uncertainty interval width on the trade-off between performance and complexity is also studied. The two-stage approach was found to provide almost equal performance to those obtained by the most efficient differential correlation-based benchmarks. However, it has a very reduced computational load, equivalent to that of sliding correlation-based approaches.     

5G meets satellite: Non-terrestrial network architecture and 3GPP

With 3GPP Release-17, global 5G standards now support non-terrestrial mobile networks comprising radio access network, terminals, and core network. This enables multi-vendor interoperability as well as interoperability with 3GPP-compliant 5G systems. This paper describes the key features enabling the NG-RAN architecture defined for 5G to support non-terrestrial networks. Starting from a general overview of NG-RAN and of the new paradigms of NTN, we introduce the NTN functionality in NG-RAN specifications with respect to feeder link switchover, cell handling, terminal registration, and OAM aspects. We also discuss different scenarios combining satellite access with 3GPP-defined core networks. We also describe some further enhancements expected to be seen in the next 3GPP release (Rel-18). We believe current and upcoming 3GPP work for NTN represents a solid basis on which 5G satellite networks can be built in the upcoming future.     

Nonsinusoidal radar signal design for stealth targets

The detection of stealth point targets challenges the design of conventional radars using sinusoidal carriers since the objective of stealth technology is to reduce the radar cross section (RCS) of targets to a level where the radar receiver cannot detect the target. While there are a number of techniques employing different technologies to reduce the RCS of targets, shaping and coating the target with absorbing material are the most useful ones. The analysis and design of nonsinusoidal radar signals is based on modeling stealth point targets by a two-layer structure consisting of a metal surface covered with a coat of absorbing material. The design is presented for two classes of signals: uncoded signals and pulse compression signals using Barker codes. The relationship between target response, absorbing material time delay, time variation of transmitted pulses and coding features are determined and analyzed. While sliding correlators are used for detection and selection of various target responses, their output autocorrelation functions are determined analytically in terms of transmitted signal autocorrelation functions. Thumbtack range-velocity resolution functions are obtained for transmitted signal characters with a single pulse and characters with coded waveforms, for different pulse duration. It is shown that the range resolution can be improved by the proper choice of the transmitted signal duration relative to absorbing material time delay. Thumbtack range-velocity resolution functions similar to those of conventional point targets can also be realized     

Energy efficient scheduling in local area networks

Wireless Networks - In Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), portable devices such as notebooks, tabs, and smart phones are powered by batteries with limited energy. With the great increase of using...