Research

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14 pages, 2201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Universal Filtered Multi Carrier Waveform for Last Meter Connectivity in 6G: A Street-Lighting-Driven Approach with Enhanced Simulator for IoT Application Dimensioning

by Véronique Georlette, Anne-Carole Honfoga, Michel Dossou and Véronique Moeyaert

Future Internet 2024, 16(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16040112 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 613

Abstract

In the dynamic landscape of 6G and smart cities, visible light communication (VLC) assumes critical significance for Internet of Things (IoT) applications spanning diverse sectors. The escalating demand for bandwidth and data underscores the need for innovative solutions, positioning VLC as a complementary [...] Read more.

In the dynamic landscape of 6G and smart cities, visible light communication (VLC) assumes critical significance for Internet of Things (IoT) applications spanning diverse sectors. The escalating demand for bandwidth and data underscores the need for innovative solutions, positioning VLC as a complementary technology within the electromagnetic spectrum. This paper focuses on the relevance of VLC in the 6G paradigm, shedding light on its applicability across smart cities and industries. The paper highlights the growing efficiency of lighting LEDs in infrastructure, facilitating the seamless integration of VLC. The study then emphasizes VLC’s robustness in outdoor settings, demonstrating effective communication up to 10 m. This resilience positions VLC as a key player in addressing the very last meter of wireless communication, offering a seamless solution for IoT connectivity. By introducing a freely available open-source simulator combined with an alternative waveform, UFMC, the study empowers researchers to dimension applications effectively, showcasing VLC’s potential to improve wireless communication in the evolving landscape of 6G and smart cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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22 pages, 2705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Joint Beam-Forming Optimization for Active-RIS-Assisted Internet-of-Things Networks with SWIPT

by Lidong Liu, Shidang Li, Mingsheng Wei, Jinsong Xu and Bencheng Yu

Future Internet 2024, 16(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16010020 - 06 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1355

Abstract

Network energy resources are limited in communication systems, which may cause energy shortages in mobile devices at the user end. Active Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (A-RIS) not only have phase modulation properties but also enhance the signal strength; thus, they are expected to solve [...] Read more.

Network energy resources are limited in communication systems, which may cause energy shortages in mobile devices at the user end. Active Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (A-RIS) not only have phase modulation properties but also enhance the signal strength; thus, they are expected to solve the energy shortage problem experience at the user end in 6G communications. In this paper, a resource allocation algorithm for maximizing the sum of harvested energy is proposed for an active RIS-assisted Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) system to solve the problem of low performance of harvested energy for users due to multiplicative fading. First, in the active RIS-assisted SWIPT system using a power splitting architecture to achieve information and energy co-transmission, the joint resource allocation problem is constructed with the objective function of maximizing the sum of the collected energy of all users, under the constraints of signal-to-noise ratio, active RIS and base station transmit power, and power splitting factors. Second, the considered non-convex problem can be turned into a standard convex problem by using alternating optimization, semi-definite relaxation, successive convex approximation, penalty function, etc., and then an alternating iterative algorithm for harvesting energy is proposed. The proposed algorithm splits the problem into two sub-problems and then performs iterative optimization separately, and then the whole is alternately optimized to obtain the optimal solution. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm improves the performance by 45.2% and 103.7% compared to the passive RIS algorithm and the traditional without-RIS algorithm, respectively, at the maximum permissible transmitting power of 45 dBm at the base station. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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32 pages, 419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The 6G Ecosystem as Support for IoE and Private Networks: Vision, Requirements, and Challenges

by Carlos Serôdio, José Cunha, Guillermo Candela, Santiago Rodriguez, Xosé Ramón Sousa and Frederico Branco

Future Internet 2023, 15(11), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15110348 - 25 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2074

Abstract

The emergence of the sixth generation of cellular systems (6G) signals a transformative era and ecosystem for mobile communications, driven by demands from technologies like the internet of everything (IoE), V2X communications, and factory automation. To support this connectivity, mission-critical applications are emerging [...] Read more.

The emergence of the sixth generation of cellular systems (6G) signals a transformative era and ecosystem for mobile communications, driven by demands from technologies like the internet of everything (IoE), V2X communications, and factory automation. To support this connectivity, mission-critical applications are emerging with challenging network requirements. The primary goals of 6G include providing sophisticated and high-quality services, extremely reliable and further-enhanced mobile broadband (feMBB), low-latency communication (ERLLC), long-distance and high-mobility communications (LDHMC), ultra-massive machine-type communications (umMTC), extremely low-power communications (ELPC), holographic communications, and quality of experience (QoE), grounded in incorporating massive broad-bandwidth machine-type (mBBMT), mobile broad-bandwidth and low-latency (MBBLL), and massive low-latency machine-type (mLLMT) communications. In attaining its objectives, 6G faces challenges that demand inventive solutions, incorporating AI, softwarization, cloudification, virtualization, and slicing features. Technologies like network function virtualization (NFV), network slicing, and software-defined networking (SDN) play pivotal roles in this integration, which facilitates efficient resource utilization, responsive service provisioning, expanded coverage, enhanced network reliability, increased capacity, densification, heightened availability, safety, security, and reduced energy consumption. It presents innovative network infrastructure concepts, such as resource-as-a-service (RaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), featuring management and service orchestration mechanisms. This includes nomadic networks, AI-aware networking strategies, and dynamic management of diverse network resources. This paper provides an in-depth survey of the wireless evolution leading to 6G networks, addressing future issues and challenges associated with 6G technology to support V2X environments considering presenting +challenges in architecture, spectrum, air interface, reliability, availability, density, flexibility, mobility, and security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

18 pages, 1727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RIS-Assisted Fixed NOMA: Outage Probability Analysis and Transmit Power Optimization

by Vinoth Babu Kumaravelu, Agbotiname Lucky Imoize, Francisco R. Castillo Soria, Periyakarupan Gurusamy Sivabalan Velmurugan, Sundarrajan Jayaraman Thiruvengadam, Dinh-Thuan Do and Arthi Murugadass

Future Internet 2023, 15(8), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15080249 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1396

Abstract

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has the ability to overcome the challenges of the wireless environment like random fluctuations, shadowing, and mobility in an energy efficient way when compared to multiple input-multiple output (MIMO)-NOMA systems. The NOMA system can deliver [...] Read more.

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has the ability to overcome the challenges of the wireless environment like random fluctuations, shadowing, and mobility in an energy efficient way when compared to multiple input-multiple output (MIMO)-NOMA systems. The NOMA system can deliver controlled channel gains, improved coverage, increased energy efficiency, and enhanced fairness in resource allocation with the help of RIS. RIS-assisted NOMA will be one of the primary potential components of sixth-generation (6G) networks, due to its appealing advantages. The analytical outage probability expressions for smart RIS-assisted fixed NOMA (FNOMA) are derived in this paper, taking into account the instances of RIS as a smart reflector (SR) and an access point (AP). The analytical and simulation findings are found to be extremely comparable. In order to effectively maximize the sum capacity, the formulas for optimal powers to be assigned for a two-user case are also established. According to simulations, RIS-assisted FNOMA surpasses FNOMA in terms of outage and sum capacity. With the aid of RIS and the optimal power assignment, RIS-AP-FNOMA offers ≈62% improvement in sum capacity over the FNOMA system for a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 10 dB and 32 elements in RIS. A significant improvement is also brought about by the increase in reflective elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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10 pages, 1190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vision, Enabling Technologies, and Scenarios for a 6G-Enabled Internet of Verticals (6G-IoV)

by Maziar Nekovee and Ferheen Ayaz

Future Internet 2023, 15(2), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15020057 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2008

Abstract

5G is the critical mobile infrastructure required to both enable and accelerate the full digital transformation of vertical sectors. While the 5G for vertical sectors is aiming at connectivity requirements of specific verticals, such as manufacturing, automotive and energy, we envisage that in [...] Read more.

5G is the critical mobile infrastructure required to both enable and accelerate the full digital transformation of vertical sectors. While the 5G for vertical sectors is aiming at connectivity requirements of specific verticals, such as manufacturing, automotive and energy, we envisage that in the longer term the expansion of wide area cellular connectivity to these sectors will pave the way for a transformation to a new Internet of Verticals (IoV) in the 6G era, which we call 6G-IoV. In this paper, we describe our vision of 6G-IoV and examine its emerging and future architectural and networking enablers. We then illustrate our vision by describing a number of future scenarios of the 6G-IoV, namely the Internet of Cloud Manufacturing accounting for around 25% of digital services and products, the Internet of Robotics to cater the challenges of the growing number of robotics and expected 7% increase in usage over the coming years and the Internet of Smart Energy Grids for net-zero energy balance and shifting to 100% dependence on the renewables of energy generation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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18 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Cloud-to-Edge-to-IoT Continuum as an Enabler for Search and Rescue Operations

by Leonardo Militano, Adriana Arteaga, Giovanni Toffetti and Nathalie Mitton

Future Internet 2023, 15(2), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15020055 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3868

Abstract

When a natural or human disaster occurs, time is critical and often of vital importance. Data from the incident area containing the information to guide search and rescue (SAR) operations and improve intervention effectiveness should be collected as quickly as possible and with [...] Read more.

When a natural or human disaster occurs, time is critical and often of vital importance. Data from the incident area containing the information to guide search and rescue (SAR) operations and improve intervention effectiveness should be collected as quickly as possible and with the highest accuracy possible. Nowadays, rescuers are assisted by different robots able to fly, climb or crawl, and with different sensors and wireless communication means. However, the heterogeneity of devices and data together with the strong low-delay requirements cause these technologies not yet to be used at their highest potential. Cloud and Edge technologies have shown the capability to offer support to the Internet of Things (IoT), complementing it with additional resources and functionalities. Nonetheless, building a continuum from the IoT to the edge and to the cloud is still an open challenge. SAR operations would benefit strongly from such a continuum. Distributed applications and advanced resource orchestration solutions over the continuum in combination with proper software stacks reaching out to the edge of the network may enhance the response time and effective intervention for SAR operation. The challenges for SAR operations, the technologies, and solutions for the cloud-to-edge-to-IoT continuum will be discussed in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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13 pages, 3147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Spectrum Management Platform Architecture to Enable a Sharing Economy in 6G

by Faycal Bouhafs, Alessandro Raschellà, Michael Mackay and Frank den Hartog

Future Internet 2022, 14(11), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi14110309 - 28 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1955

Abstract

We propose a novel vision to trade and allocate wireless spectrum in 6G communication networks inspired by the concept of the sharing economy. We argue that such an approach will help ease the surge in demands for wireless spectrum that will characterise the [...] Read more.

We propose a novel vision to trade and allocate wireless spectrum in 6G communication networks inspired by the concept of the sharing economy. We argue that such an approach will help ease the surge in demands for wireless spectrum that will characterise the 6G world. We also introduce HODNET (Heterogeneous on Demand NETwork resource negotiation), an open platform that is able to realise this new spectrum-sharing model. To demonstrate the benefits of spectrum trading and allocation in this new paradigm, we considered the use-case of massive Internet of Things (IoT) on a local scale. We simulated a large IoT deployment and evaluated the spectral efficiency of the system when managed using HODNET compared with a standard 5G deployment. Our experiments show that HODNET can indeed offer better allocation, based on our spectrum sharing model, of spectrum resources compared with standard allocation approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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Review

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14 pages, 7742 KiB

Open AccessReview

Securing UAV Flying Base Station for Mobile Networking: A Review

by Sang-Yoon Chang, Kyungmin Park, Jonghyun Kim and Jinoh Kim

Future Internet 2023, 15(5), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15050176 - 09 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1592

Abstract

A flying base station based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses its mobility to extend its connectivity coverage and improve its communication channel quality to achieve a greater communication rate and latency performances. While UAV flying base stations have been used in [...] Read more.

A flying base station based on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses its mobility to extend its connectivity coverage and improve its communication channel quality to achieve a greater communication rate and latency performances. While UAV flying base stations have been used in emergency events in 5G networking (sporadic and temporary), their use will significantly increase in 6G networking, as 6G expects reliable connectivity even in rural regions and requires high-performance communication channels and line-of-sight channels for millimeter wave (mmWave) communications. Securing the integrity and availability of the base station operations is critical because of the users’ increasing reliance on the connectivity provided by the base stations, e.g., the mobile user loses connectivity if the base station operation gets disrupted. This paper identifies the security issues and research gaps of flying base stations, focusing on their unique properties, while building on the existing research in wireless communications for stationary ground base stations and embedded control for UAV drones. More specifically, the flying base station’s user-dependent positioning, its battery-constrained power, and the dynamic and distributed operations cause vulnerabilities that are distinct from those in 5G and previous-generation mobile networking with stationary ground base stations. This paper reviews the relevant security research from the perspectives of communications (mobile computing, 5G networking, and distributed computing) and embedded/control systems (UAV vehicular positioning and battery control) and then identifies the security gaps and new issues emerging for flying base stations. Through this review paper, we inform readers of flying base station research, development, and standardization for future mobile and 6G networking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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13 pages, 793 KiB

Open AccessReview

6G to Take the Digital Divide by Storm: Key Technologies and Trends to Bridge the Gap

by Chiara Suraci, Sara Pizzi, Federico Montori, Marco Di Felice and Giuseppe Araniti

Future Internet 2022, 14(6), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi14060189 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3033

Abstract

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has shed light on the urgency of bridging the digital divide to guarantee equity in the fruition of different services by all citizens. The inability to access the digital world may be due to a lack of network [...] Read more.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has shed light on the urgency of bridging the digital divide to guarantee equity in the fruition of different services by all citizens. The inability to access the digital world may be due to a lack of network infrastructure, which we refer to as service-delivery divide, or to the physical conditions, handicaps, age, or digital illiteracy of the citizens, that is mentioned as service-fruition divide. In this paper, we discuss the way how future sixth-generation (6G) systems can remedy actual limitations in the realization of a truly digital world. Hence, we introduce the key technologies for bridging the digital gap and show how they can work in two use cases of particular importance, namely eHealth and education, where digital inequalities have been dramatically augmented by the pandemic. Finally, considerations about the socio-economical impacts of future 6G solutions are drawn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Moving towards 6G Wireless Technologies)

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