Joint QoE-based user association and efficient cell–carrier distribution for enabling fully hybrid spectrum sharing approach in 5G mmWave cellular networks

Densifying the network by adding more minicell towers or relays throughout a hot spot area while extensively reusing the available spectrum is an essential choice to improve QoS. Unfortunately, this approach can be prohibitively costly. One possible solution to reduce the capital and operating expenditure in such overdensified networks is the adoption of the spectrum-sharing approach. However, both approaches would complicate the interference phenomenon either among inter- or intraoperators, which may cause serious performance degradation. In this paper, a fully hybrid spectrum-sharing (FHSS) approach aided by an efficient cell–carrier distribution was proposed with consideration to the interference dilemma. Moreover, an adaptive hybrid QoE-based mmWave user association (mUA) scheme was presented to assign a typical user to the serving mmWave base station (mBS), which offers the highest achievable data rate. The proposed FHSS approach (with the presented QoE-based mUA) was compared with recent works and with both FHSS approach using the conventional max-SINR-based mUA, which assigns a typical user to the tagged mBS carrying the highest signal-to-interference-plus noise ratio and the baseline scenario (licensed spectrum access). In particular, three spectrum access methods (licensed, semipooled, and fully pooled) were integrated in a hybrid manner to engage improved data rates to users. Numerical results show that the joint cell–carrier distribution and FHSS approach with QoE-based mUA outperform both baselines FHSS with the max-SINR mUA scheme and the licensed spectrum access. Furthermore, results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in terms of both operators’ independence and fairness.

     

Super Compact UWB Monopole Antenna for Small IoT Devices

This article introduces a novel, ultrawideband (UWB) planar monopole antenna printed on Roger RT/5880 substrate in a compact size for small Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The total electrical dimensions of the proposed compact UWB antenna are 0.19 λ_o × 0.215 λ_o × 0.0196 λ_o with the overall physical sizes of 15 mm × 17 mm × 1.548 mm at the lower resonance frequency of 3.8 GHz. The planar monopole antenna is fed through the linearly tapered microstrip line on a partially structured ground plane to achieve optimum impedance matching for UWB operation. The proposed compact UWB antenna has an operation bandwidth of 9.53 GHz from 3.026 GHz up to 12.556 GHz at −10 dB return loss with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of about 122%. The numerically computed and experimentally measured results agree well in between. A detailed time-domain analysis is additionally accomplished to verify the radiation efficiency of the proposed antenna design for the ultra-wideband signal propagation. The fabricated prototype of a compact UWB antenna exhibits an omnidirectional radiation pattern with the low peak measured gain required of 2.55 dBi at 10 GHz and promising radiation efficiency of 90%. The proposed compact planar antenna has technical potential to be utilized in UWB and IoT applications.     

Design of dual‐band microstrip patch antenna with right‐angle triangular aperture slot for energy transfer application

This work focusing on the dual‐band antenna design with rectifying circuit for energy transfer system technology for enhancement gain performance. The air gap technique is applied on this microstrip antenna design work to enhance the antenna gain. The work begins with designing and analyzing the antenna via the CST Microwave Studio software. After validation on acceptable performance in simulation side is obtained, the return loss, S₁₁ of the antenna is measured using vector network analyzer equipment. The rectifier circuit is used to convert the captured signal to DC voltage. This projected dual‐band antenna has successfully accomplished the target on return loss of ?44.707 dB and ?32.163 dB at dual resonant frequencies for 1.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz, respectively. This proposed antenna design benefits in low cost fabrication and has achieved high gain of 6.31 dBi and 7.82 dBi for dual‐band functioning frequencies.     

Robust Nonlinear H ∞ State Feedback Control of Polynomial Discrete-Time Systems: An Integrator Approach

This paper investigates the problem of designing a nonlinear H _∞ state feedback controller for polynomial discrete-time systems with norm-bounded uncertainties. In general, the problem of designing a controller for polynomial discrete-time systems is difficult, because it is a nonconvex problem. More precisely, in general, its Lyapunov function and control input are not jointly convex. Hence, it cannot be solved by semidefinite programming. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed, where an integrator is incorporated into the controller structure. In doing so, a convex formulation of the controller design problem can be rendered in a less conservative way than the available approaches. Furthermore, we establish the interconnection between robust H _∞ control of polynomial discrete-time systems with norm-bounded uncertainties and H _∞ control of scaled polynomial discrete-time systems. This establishment allows us to convert the robust H _∞ control problems to H _∞ control problems. Then, based on the sum of squares (SOS) approach, sufficient conditions for the existence of a nonlinear H _∞ state feedback controller are given in terms of solvability of polynomial matrix inequalities (PMIs), which can be solved by the recently developed SOS solvers. A tunnel diode circuit is used to demonstrate the validity of this integrator approach.     

A compact broadband coplanar waveguide fed circularly polarized printed monopole antenna with asymmetric modified ground plane

In this communication, a broadband circularly polarized (CP) monopole antenna with coplanar waveguide (CPW) feeding is proposed. It consists of a modified rectangular monopole, an asymmetric ground plane, a two‐linked inverted L‐shaped strips on the left CPW ground, and two rectangular horizontal slots in asymmetric CPW ground plane. The overall dimension is only 0.47λ _o × 0.47λ _o. The antenna prototype has been fabricated. The measured results indicate that a broad ?10 dB impedance bandwidth (IBW) of 107.5% (4.3 GHz, 1.85‐6.15 GHz) and a broad 3 dB axial ratio ARBW of 104.3% (4 GHz, 1.855‐5.9 GHz) can be achieved; the average realized gain is 2.3 dBi for the entire CP band. The proposed antenna is an attractive candidate for several wireless communication systems.     

A survey of mmWave user association mechanisms and spectrum sharing approaches: an overview,open issues and challenges,future research trends

Fifth generation (5G) cellular networks promise to support multi-radio access technologies (multi-RATs) with low and high frequencies aiming at delivering good coverage, several gigabits data rate, and ultra-reliable services. In this context, user-association and resource allocation appear to be a huge challenge due to the variety of specifications and varied propagation environments. In this treatise, the focus is on the technical and administrative difficulties of the adoption of user association (UA) mechanism and spectrum sharing approach (SSA) in millimeter wave (mmWave) systems, for example, the technical design considerations and their underlying options, as well as their impact on users and network performance. In addition, details on the importance of the rules and regulations of SSA are presented. This study also identified a few possible design solutions and potential promising technologies in both UA and SSA. In the context of UA, several mechanisms are identified, such as backhaul-, caching-, and hybrid multi-criteria-aware UA to achieve seamless connectivity and to enhance the network utility. In the context of SSA, this study pinpoints varied subjects that need to be explored, such as joint efficient rules and regulations enactment, assessment of fairness and independence in multi-independent mobile network operators (multi-IMNOs) that support SSA, as well as the implementation of hybrid-SSA via Virtualized Cloud Radio Access Network. Finally, attention is drawn to several key conclusions to enable readers and interested researchers to learn about the most controversial points of mmWave 5G cellular networks.

     

Dual‐band aperture‐coupled rectenna for radio frequency energy harvesting

The article presents a dual‐band aperture‐coupled rectenna for radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting at 2.45 and 5 GHz application. The rectenna consists of a dual‐band π‐shaped slot‐etched aperture‐coupled antenna, designed at the lower substrate of two FR4 substrate layers and a dual‐band rectifier. The proposed antenna design also introduces the harmonic suppression of third‐ and higher order harmonics, ranging from 6 up to 10 GHz from the asymmetrical stubs design at the transmission feedline. The dual‐band rectifier is designed to operate at 2.45 and 5 GHz frequency, successfully achieving high conversion efficiency at 68.83% and 49.90% with the optimum load resistor of value 700 Ω and 1.1 kΩ. The minimum DC voltage of 0.167 and 0.236 V with 0 dBm RF input power can be increased when greater RF power is being applied to it, increasing its flexibility to cater various low‐power applications.     

Microfluidic biochemical sensor based on circular SIW‐DMS approach for dielectric characterization application

This work proposes an advancement of microwave planar resonator sensor with high sensitivity for microfluidic dielectric characterization. The physical design was employed based on circular substrate integrated waveguide (CSIW) with an integration of defected microstrip structure (DMS). This approach can be applied to accelerate the dielectric detection, structure miniaturization and material differentiation. The presented sensor operates based on variations in the dielectric properties of solvents in the vicinity of a planar open‐ended microstrip resonator device. Further analysis in volume and concentration were performed to validate the reliability of the sensor. Validation and functionality of the sensor were investigated by experimental and results comparison. A mathematical model was developed to determine the dielectric constant and the loss tangent of the microfluidic samples. The average error detection has a lower percentage value of 0.11% by comparison to the commercial and ideal dielectric properties of the aqueous samples. The maximum relative error detection, ±0.37% implied better accuracy compared to the existing resonator sensors with more than 400 of the Q‐factor. The proposed CSIW‐DMS sensor was found to give higher accuracy and detection response; besides easier to fabricate, and compatible for integration with other electronic components in an RF sensor for variety of applications.