Indoor Base Station/Reflector Placement and Sleep Mode Optimization for mmWave Networks, BWAC Core Project
This research is conducted in NC State University (NC State).
NC State researchers are studying the use of millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies to deliver higher data rates with low latency and high spectral efficiency. However, mmWave frequencies face higher free-space path loss and penetration loss, as well as being more sensitive to blockages. An optimization framework is being developed based on analytical channel models to find the optimal locations for base stations that achieve desired communication performance with the fewest BSs possible. Smart on/off scheduling strategies are being considered to reduce energy consumption by putting BSs into sleeping states during off-peak traffic.
Sponsor
Broadband Wireless Access and Applications Center (BWAC) - Research Site at NCSU
The grant—running from October 1, 2020 to May 15, 2023—is for a total of $50,000.
Principle Investigators
Ismail Guvenc
More Details
Sub-6 GHz bands have high coverage probability in both indoor and outdoor environments; however, severe spectrum shortage in these traditional bands reduces the appeal. Mostly-vacant millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies come up at this point as a potential solution to deliver higher data rates with low latency and high spectral efficiency, exceeding what is possible with the traditional sub-6 GHz cellular systems. On the other hand, mmWave bands also bring challenges that need to be addressed before mass deployment. Due to higher frequencies, mmWave bands face higher free-space path loss and penetration loss, and are more sensitive to blockages. To increase the probability of line-of-sight (LOS) links, and hence to obviate the drawbacks mentioned above, mmWave network should be planned carefully and mmWave base stations (BSs) need to be deployed densely, which, in turn, lead to many other problems, such as strong interference and energy inefficiency. The goal of this research is two-fold: 1) we will develop an optimization framework based on analytical channel models to identify the optimum BS locations in indoor environments that achieve the desired communication performance (e.g., coverage, throughput) with the least number of BSs possible; and 2) we will consider smart on/off scheduling strategies that put BSs into sleeping state (during off-peak traffic) to save energy.