Wireless communication systems that include unmanned aerial vehicles promise to provide cost-effective wireless connectivity for devices without infrastructure coverage. Compared to terrestrial communications or those based on high-altitude platforms, on-demand wireless systems with low-altitude UAVs are in general faster to deploy, more flexibly reconfigured, and likely to have better communication channels due to the presence of short-range line-of-sight links. However, the utilization of highly mobile and energy-constrained UAVs for wireless communications also introduces many new challenges. In this article, we provide an overview of UAV-aided wireless communications, by introducing the basic networking architecture and main channel characteristics, highlighting the key design considerations as well as the new opportunities to be exploited.

Wireless communications with unmanned aerial vehicles: opportunities and challenges

The vision of next generation 5G wireless communications lies in providing very high data rates (typically of Gbps order), extremely low latency, manifold increase in base station capacity, and significant improvement in users’ perceived quality of service (QoS), compared to current 4G LTE networks. Ever increasing proliferation of smart devices, introduction of new emerging multimedia applications, together with an exponential rise in wireless data (multimedia) demand and usage is already creating a significant burden on existing cellular networks. 5G wireless systems, with improved data rates, capacity, latency, and QoS are expected to be the panacea of most of the current cellular networks’ problems. In this survey, we make an exhaustive review of wireless evolution toward 5G networks. We first discuss the new architectural changes associated with the radio access network (RAN) design, including air interfaces, smart antennas, cloud and heterogeneous RAN. Subsequently, we make an in-depth survey of underlying novel mm-wave physical layer technologies, encompassing new channel model estimation, directional antenna design, beamforming algorithms, and massive MIMO technologies. Next, the details of MAC layer protocols and multiplexing schemes needed to efficiently support this new physical layer are discussed. We also look into the killer applications, considered as the major driving force behind 5G. In order to understand the improved user experience, we provide highlights of new QoS, QoE, and SON features associated with the 5G evolution. For alleviating the increased network energy consumption and operating expenditure, we make a detail review on energy awareness and cost efficiency. As understanding the current status of 5G implementation is important for its eventual commercialization, we also discuss relevant field trials, drive tests, and simulation experiments. Finally, we point out major existing research issues and identify possible future research directions.

Next Generation 5G Wireless Networks: A Comprehensive Survey

In this article device-to-device (D2D) communication underlaying a 3GPP LTE-Advanced cellular network is studied as an enabler of local services with limited interference impact on the primary cellular network. The approach of the study is a tight integration of D2D communication into an LTE-Advanced network. In particular, we propose mechanisms for D2D communication session setup and management involving procedures in the LTE System Architecture Evolution. Moreover, we present numerical results based on system simulations in an interference limited local area scenario. Our results show that D2D communication can increase the total throughput observed in the cell area.

Device-to-device communication as an underlay to LTE-advanced networks

METIS is the EU flagship 5G project with the objective of laying the foundation for 5G systems and building consensus prior to standardization. The METIS overall approach toward 5G builds on the evolution of existing technologies complemented by new radio concepts that are designed to meet the new and challenging requirements of use cases today?s radio access networks cannot support. The integration of these new radio concepts, such as massive MIMO, ultra dense networks, moving networks, and device-to-device, ultra reliable, and massive machine communications, will allow 5G to support the expected increase in mobile data volume while broadening the range of application domains that mobile communications can support beyond 2020. In this article, we describe the scenarios identified for the purpose of driving the 5G research direction. Furthermore, we give initial directions for the technology components (e.g., link level components, multinode/multiantenna, multi-RAT, and multi-layer networks and spectrum handling) that will allow the fulfillment of the requirements of the identified 5G scenarios.

Scenarios for 5G mobile and wireless communications: the vision of the METIS project

In the near future, i.e., beyond 4G, some of the prime objectives or demands that need to be addressed are increased capacity, improved data rate, decreased latency, and better quality of service. To meet these demands, drastic improvements need to be made in cellular network architecture. This paper presents the results of a detailed survey on the fifth generation (5G) cellular network architecture and some of the key emerging technologies that are helpful in improving the architecture and meeting the demands of users. In this detailed survey, the prime focus is on the 5G cellular network architecture, massive multiple input multiple output technology, and device-to-device communication (D2D). Along with this, some of the emerging technologies that are addressed in this paper include interference management, spectrum sharing with cognitive radio, ultra-dense networks, multi-radio access technology association, full duplex radios, millimeter wave solutions for 5G cellular networks, and cloud technologies for 5G radio access networks and software defined networks. In this paper, a general probable 5G cellular network architecture is proposed, which shows that D2D, small cell access points, network cloud, and the Internet of Things can be a part of 5G cellular network architecture. A detailed survey is included regarding current research projects being conducted in different countries by research groups and institutions that are working on 5G technologies.

A Survey of 5G Network: Architecture and Emerging Technologies

Written by leading experts in 5G research, this book is a comprehensive overview of the current state of 5G. Covering everything from the most likely use cases, spectrum aspects, and a wide range of technology options to potential 5G system architectures, it is an indispensable reference for academics and professionals involved in wireless and mobile communications. Global research efforts are summarised, and key component technologies including D2D, mm-wave communications, massive MIMO, coordinated multi-point, wireless network coding, interference management and spectrum issues are described and explained. The significance of 5G for the automotive, building, energy, and manufacturing economic sectors is addressed, as is the relationship between IoT, machine type communications, and cyber-physical systems. This essential resource equips you with a solid insight into the nature, impact and opportunities of 5G.

5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology

Demands for very high system capacity and end-user data rates of the order of 10 Gb/s can be met in localized environments by Ultra-Dense Networks (UDN), characterized as networks with very short inter-site distances capable of ensuring low interference levels during communications. UDNs are expected to operate in the millimeter-wave band, where wide bandwidth signals needed for such high data rates can be designed, and will rely on high-gain beamforming to mitigate path loss and ensure low interference. The dense deployment of infrastructure nodes will make traditional wire-based backhaul provisioning challenging. Wireless self-backhauling over multiple hops is proposed to enhance flexibility in deployment. A description of the architecture and a concept based on separation of mobility, radio resource coordination among multiple nodes, and data plane handling, as well as on integration with wide-area networks, is introduced. A simulation of a multi-node office environment is used to demonstrate the performance of wireless self-backhauling at various loads.

Ultra-dense networks in millimeter-wave frequencies

In 2020, mobile and wireless traffic volume is expected to increase thousand-fold over 2010 figures. Moreover, an increase in the number of wirelessly-connected devices to counts in the tens of billions will have a profound impact on society. Massive machine communication, forming the basis for the Internet of Things, will make our everyday life more efficient, comfortable and safer, through a wide range of applications including traffic safety and medical services. The variety of applications and data traffic types will be significantly larger than today, and will result in more diverse requirements on services, devices and networks. METIS is set up by leading global players to prepare the migration towards tomorrow's multi-purpose global communication infrastructure, serving humans and things. The main objective of METIS is to lay the foundation for this future global mobile and wireless communications system, and to generate a global consensus here. In particular, METIS will provide new solutions which fit the needs beyond 2020.

The Foundation of the Mobile and Wireless Communications System for 2020 and Beyond: Challenges, Enablers and Technology Solutions

About the Editors. Preface. Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. List of Contributors. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Development and Status of Mobile and Wireless Communications. 1.2 Expectations of Data Traffic Growth. 1.3 Development Towards IMT-Advanced. 1.4 Global Research Activities. 1.5 WINNER Project. 1.6 Future Work. References. 2 Usage Scenarios and Technical Requirements. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Key Scenario Elements. 2.3 Service Classes and Service Requirements. 2.4 Requirements for System Capabilities. 2.5 Terminal Requirements. 2.6 Performance Requirements. 2.7 Spectrum Requirements. 2.8 Dependency of Requirements. 2.9 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 3 WINNER II Channel Models. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Modelling Considerations. 3.3 Channel-Modelling Approach. 3.4 Channel Models and Parameters. 3.5 Channel Model Usage. 3.6 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 4 System Concept and Architecture. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Design Principles and Main Characteristics. 4.3 Logical Node Architecture. 4.4 Protocol and Service Architecture. 4.5 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 5 Modulation and Coding Techniques. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Basic Modulation and Coding Scheme. 5.3 Coding Schemes. 5.4 Link Adaptation. 5.5 Link Level Aspects of H-ARQ. 5.6 Conclusions. References. 6 Link Level Procedures. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Pilot Design. 6.3 Channel Estimation. 6.4 Radio Frequency Impairments. 6.5 Measurements and Signalling. 6.6 Link Level Synchronisation. 6.7 Network Synchronisation. 6.8 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 7 Advanced Antennas Concept for 4G. 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Multiple Antennas Concept. 7.3 Spatial Adaptation. 7.4 Spatial Schemes. 7.5 Interference Mitigation. 7.6 Pilots, Feedback and Measurements. 7.7 MIMO Aspects in Relaying. 7.8 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 8 Layer-2 Relays for IMT-Advanced Cellular Networks. 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Motivation for Layer-2 Relays and Prior Work. 8.3 Relay-based Deployments. 8.4 Design Choices for Relay-based Cellular Networks. 8.5 System and Network Aspects. 8.6 System-level Performance Evaluation. 8.7 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 9 Multiple Access Schemes and Inter-cell Interference Mitigation Techniques. 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 Multiple Access Schemes. 9.3 Inter-cell Interference Mitigation Schemes. 9.4 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 10 Radio Resource Control and System Level Functions. 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 IPCL Layer. 10.3 Radio Resource Control. 10.4 Centralised, Distributed and Hybrid RRM Architecture. 10.5 System-Level Performance Results. 10.6 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 11 Sharing and Flexible Spectrum Use Capabilities. 11.1 Introduction. 11.2 Spectrum Technologies Framework. 11.3 Detailed Design of a Spectrum Assignment Negotiation Mechanism. 11.4 Spectrum Assignment Enabling Mechanisms. 11.5 WINNER Sharing with FSS. 11.6 Performance Evaluation of Spectrum Assignment Mechanisms. 11.7 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 12 ITU-R Spectrum Demand Calculation for IMT-Advanced. 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 ITU-R Work on Spectrum Requirements of IMT-Advanced. 12.3 ITU-R Spectrum Calculation Methodology. 12.4 Software Implementation of Methodology. 12.5 Estimated Spectrum Requirements of IMT-Advanced. 12.6 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 13 System Model, Test Scenarios, and Performance Evaluation. 13.1 Introduction. 13.2 Performance Assessment of Wireless Networks. 13.3 Interface between Link and System Simulations. 13.4 Test Scenarios. 13.5 Spectral Efficiency and Number of Satisfied Users under QoS Constraints. 13.6 End-to-End Performance Evaluation. 13.7 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. 14 Cost Assessment and Optimisation for WINNER Deployments. 14.1 Introduction. 14.2 Cost Assessment Framework and Assumptions. 14.3 Cost Components. 14.4 Cost Assessment Models. 14.5 Reference Deployment Scenarios and Cost Assessments. 14.6 Conclusion. Acknowledgements. References. Index.

Afif Osseiran

Papers

Scenarios for 5G mobile and wireless communications: the vision of the METIS project

5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology

Ultra-dense networks in millimeter-wave frequencies

The Foundation of the Mobile and Wireless Communications System for 2020 and Beyond: Challenges, Enablers and Technology Solutions

Radio technologies and concepts for IMT-Advanced