Author
Franco Fuschini
Bio: Franco Fuschini is an academic researcher from University of Bologna. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wireless & Ray tracing (graphics). The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 89 publications receiving 1467 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this paper, the results of a measurement campaign aimed at determining the far-field diffuse scattering pattern of typical building walls are shown in the paper, which are then used to determine and tune simple diffuse scattering models based on the effective roughness approach, to be embedded into ray tracing simulators.
Abstract: The results of a measurement campaign aimed at determining the far-field diffuse scattering pattern of typical building walls are shown in the paper. Such results are then used to determine and tune simple diffuse scattering models based on the effective roughness approach, to be embedded into ray tracing simulators. It is shown that by adopting an appropriate single-lobe scattering pattern the agreement between simulation and measurement is very good
307 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, a simple ray-based model is used to integrate reflection/diffraction with diffuse scattering to obtain good narrow-band and wide-band results with a low number of interactions.
Abstract: Ray tracing (RT) models are now widely adopted for field prediction in urban environment. Nevertheless, conventional RT tools still suffer for excessive central processing unit (CPU) time and inaccuracy in wide-band prediction. By increasing the maximum number of successive interactions (reflections, diffractions) little improvement in wide-band results can be usually achieved while CPU time increases exponentially. In the present paper, it is shown that by integrating reflection/diffraction with diffuse scattering, good narrow-band and wide-band results can be obtained with a low number of interactions. The adopted scattering model is a simple ray-based model, which has been embedded in a three-dimensional (3-D) RT program. The impact of diffuse scattering on narrowband and wide-band parameters is analyzed in the paper and the complete model is compared with measurements in a variety of cases, showing the validity of the approach.
175 citations
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TL;DR: The backscattered, radiated field by a UHF Transponder is described by means of a simple and complete analytical expression, and the tag radar cross section (RCS) and the bit error rate (BER) at the Reader are evaluated by Means of the achieved formula.
Abstract: The investigation of the modulated, backscattered contribution from UHF RFID Transponders is a crucial issue for the reliable evaluation of the behavior and the performance of RFID systems. The backscattered, radiated field by a UHF Transponder is described by means of a simple and complete analytical expression. The tag radar cross section (RCS) and the bit error rate (BER) at the Reader are evaluated by means of the achieved formula, and the results are in perfect agreement with previous available publications.
133 citations
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TL;DR: A 3-D ray tracing model is used as a propagation-prediction engine to evaluate performance in a number of simple, reference cases and Ray tracing itself is proposed and evaluated as a real-time prediction tool to assist future BF techniques.
Abstract: The use of large-size antenna arrays to implement pencil-beam forming techniques is becoming a key asset to cope with the very high throughput density requirements and high path-loss of future millimeter-wave (mm-wave) gigabit-wireless applications. Suboptimal beamforming (BF) strategies based on search over discrete set of beams (steering vectors) are proposed and implemented in present standards and applications. The potential of fully adaptive advanced BF strategies that will become possible in the future, thanks to the availability of accurate localization and powerful distributed computing, is evaluated in this paper through system simulation. After validation and calibration against mm-wave directional indoor channel measurements, a 3-D ray tracing model is used as a propagation-prediction engine to evaluate performance in a number of simple, reference cases. Ray tracing itself, however, is proposed and evaluated as a real-time prediction tool to assist future BF techniques.
124 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, an extensive review of propagation characteristics and challenges related to the use of millimeter wave (mm-wave) in future wireless systems is presented, and the need for new multidimensional models and measurements is identified.
Abstract: The World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) identified a number of frequency bands between 24 and 86 GHz as candidate frequencies for future cellular networks. In this article, an extensive review of propagation characteristics and challenges related to the use of millimeter wave (mm-wave) in future wireless systems is presented. Reference to existing path-loss models including atmospheric and material attenuation in recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland, is given, and the need for new multidimensional models and measurements is identified. A description of state-of-the-art mm-wave channel sounders for single and multiple antenna measurements is followed by a discussion of the most recent deterministic, semideterministic, and stochastic propagation and channel models. Finally, standardization issues are outlined with recommendations for future research.
107 citations
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TL;DR: This paper overviews the current research efforts on smart radio environments, the enabling technologies to realize them in practice, the need of new communication-theoretic models for their analysis and design, and the long-term and open research issues to be solved towards their massive deployment.
Abstract: Future wireless networks are expected to constitute a distributed intelligent wireless communications, sensing, and computing platform, which will have the challenging requirement of interconnecting the physical and digital worlds in a seamless and sustainable manner. Currently, two main factors prevent wireless network operators from building such networks: (1) the lack of control of the wireless environment, whose impact on the radio waves cannot be customized, and (2) the current operation of wireless radios, which consume a lot of power because new signals are generated whenever data has to be transmitted. In this paper, we challenge the usual “more data needs more power and emission of radio waves” status quo, and motivate that future wireless networks necessitate a smart radio environment: a transformative wireless concept, where the environmental objects are coated with artificial thin films of electromagnetic and reconfigurable material (that are referred to as reconfigurable intelligent meta-surfaces), which are capable of sensing the environment and of applying customized transformations to the radio waves. Smart radio environments have the potential to provide future wireless networks with uninterrupted wireless connectivity, and with the capability of transmitting data without generating new signals but recycling existing radio waves. We will discuss, in particular, two major types of reconfigurable intelligent meta-surfaces applied to wireless networks. The first type of meta-surfaces will be embedded into, e.g., walls, and will be directly controlled by the wireless network operators via a software controller in order to shape the radio waves for, e.g., improving the network coverage. The second type of meta-surfaces will be embedded into objects, e.g., smart t-shirts with sensors for health monitoring, and will backscatter the radio waves generated by cellular base stations in order to report their sensed data to mobile phones. These functionalities will enable wireless network operators to offer new services without the emission of additional radio waves, but by recycling those already existing for other purposes. This paper overviews the current research efforts on smart radio environments, the enabling technologies to realize them in practice, the need of new communication-theoretic models for their analysis and design, and the long-term and open research issues to be solved towards their massive deployment. In a nutshell, this paper is focused on discussing how the availability of reconfigurable intelligent meta-surfaces will allow wireless network operators to redesign common and well-known network communication paradigms.
1,504 citations
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TL;DR: This paper offers the first in-depth look at the vast applications of THz wireless products and applications and provides approaches for how to reduce power and increase performance across several problem domains, giving early evidence that THz techniques are compelling and available for future wireless communications.
Abstract: Frequencies from 100 GHz to 3 THz are promising bands for the next generation of wireless communication systems because of the wide swaths of unused and unexplored spectrum. These frequencies also offer the potential for revolutionary applications that will be made possible by new thinking, and advances in devices, circuits, software, signal processing, and systems. This paper describes many of the technical challenges and opportunities for wireless communication and sensing applications above 100 GHz, and presents a number of promising discoveries, novel approaches, and recent results that will aid in the development and implementation of the sixth generation (6G) of wireless networks, and beyond. This paper shows recent regulatory and standard body rulings that are anticipating wireless products and services above 100 GHz and illustrates the viability of wireless cognition, hyper-accurate position location, sensing, and imaging. This paper also presents approaches and results that show how long distance mobile communications will be supported to above 800 GHz since the antenna gains are able to overcome air-induced attenuation, and present methods that reduce the computational complexity and simplify the signal processing used in adaptive antenna arrays, by exploiting the Special Theory of Relativity to create a cone of silence in over-sampled antenna arrays that improve performance for digital phased array antennas. Also, new results that give insights into power efficient beam steering algorithms, and new propagation and partition loss models above 100 GHz are given, and promising imaging, array processing, and position location results are presented. The implementation of spatial consistency at THz frequencies, an important component of channel modeling that considers minute changes and correlations over space, is also discussed. This paper offers the first in-depth look at the vast applications of THz wireless products and applications and provides approaches for how to reduce power and increase performance across several problem domains, giving early evidence that THz techniques are compelling and available for future wireless communications.
1,352 citations
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TL;DR: The suitability of millimeter wave beamforming methods, both, existing and proposed till midyear 2015, are explored, and the exciting new prospects unfolding in this domain are identified.
Abstract: The remarkable growth of wireless data traffic in recent times has driven the need to explore suitable regions in the radio spectrum to meet the projected requirements. In pursuance of this, millimeter wave communications have received considerable attention in the research fraternity. Due to the high path and penetration losses at millimeter wavelengths, antenna beamforming assumes a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining a robust communication link. Beamforming for millimeter wave communications poses a multitude of diverse challenges due to the large channel bandwidth, unique channel characteristics, and hardware constraints. In this paper, we track the evolution and advancements in antenna beamforming for millimeter wave communications in the context of the distinct requirements for indoor and outdoor communication scenarios. We expand the scope of discussion by including the developments in radio frequency system design and implementation for millimeter wave beamforming. We explore the suitability of millimeter wave beamforming methods, both, existing and proposed till midyear 2015, and identify the exciting new prospects unfolding in this domain.
557 citations
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TL;DR: This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art radio propagation and channel models for wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and describes a couple of key features of channels and radio propagation which are not sufficiently included in current MIMO models.
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the state-of-the-art radio propagation and channel models for wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. We distinguish between physical models and analytical models and discuss popular examples from both model types. Physical models focus on the double-directional propagation mechanisms between the location of transmitter and receiver without taking the antenna configuration into account. Analytical models capture physical wave propagation and antenna configuration simultaneously by describing the impulse response (equivalently, the transfer function) between the antenna arrays at both link ends. We also review some MIMO models that are included in current standardization activities for the purpose of reproducible and comparable MIMO system evaluations. Finally, we describe a couple of key features of channels and radio propagation which are not sufficiently included in current MIMO models.
534 citations
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TL;DR: This article presents four link budgets that account for the major propagation mechanisms of the backscatter channel, along with a detailed discussion of each.
Abstract: Backscatter radio - wireless communication by modulating signals scattered from a transponder (RF tag) - is fundamentally different from conventional radio because it involves two distinct links: the power-up link for powering passive RF tags, and the backscatter link for describing backscatter communication. Because of severe power constraints on the RF tag, a thorough knowledge of the backscatter channel is necessary to maximize backscatter-radio and radio-frequency identification (RFID) system performance. This article presents four link budgets that account for the major propagation mechanisms of the backscatter channel, along with a detailed discussion of each. Use of the link budgets is demonstrated by a practical UHF RFID portal example. The benefits of future 5.8 GHz multi-antenna backscatter-radio systems are shown. An intuitive analogy for understanding the antenna polarization of RF tag systems is presented.
468 citations