Showing papers by "Theodore S. Rappaport published in 2018"

Propagation Models and Performance Evaluation for 5G Millimeter-Wave Bands

Abstract: Fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks are expected to operate at both microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency bands, including frequencies in the range of 24 to 86 GHz. Radio propagation models are used to help engineers design, deploy, and compare candidate wireless technologies, and have a profound impact on the decisions of almost every aspect of wireless communications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the channel models that will likely be used in the design of 5G radio systems. We start with a discussion on the framework of channel models, which consists of classical models of path loss versus distance, large-scale, and small-scale fading models, and multiple-input multiple-output channel models. Then, key differences between mmWave and microwave channel models are presented, and two popular mmWave channel models are discussed: the 3rd Generation Partnership Project model, which is adopted by the International Telecommunication Union, and the NYUSIM model, which was developed from several years of field measurements in New York City. Examples on how to apply the channel models are then given for several diverse applications demonstrating the wide impact of the models and their parameter values, where the performance comparisons of the channel models are done with promising hybrid beamforming approaches, including leveraging coordinated multipoint transmission. These results show that the answers to channel performance metrics, such as spectrum efficiency, coverage, hardware/signal processing requirements, etc., are extremely sensitive to the choice of channel models.

Microwave vs. Millimeter-Wave Propagation Channels: Key Differences and Impact on 5G Cellular Systems

Abstract: Fifth generation cellular systems will be deployed in the microwave and millimeterwave (mmWave) frequency bands (i.e., between 0.5100 GHz). Propagation characteristics at these bands have a fundamental impact on each aspect of the cellular architecture, ranging from equipment design to real-time performance in the field. While we have a reasonable understanding of the propagation characteristics at microwave (< 6 GHz) frequencies, the same cannot be said for mmWave. This article explains key differences in the propagation characteristics between the microwave and mmWave bands, and further gives examples of how these differences impact 5G system design.

Propagation Measurement System and Approach at 140 GHz-Moving to 6G and Above 100 GHz

Abstract: With the relatively recent realization that millimeter wave frequencies are viable for mobile communications, extensive measurements and research have been conducted on frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz, and several global wireless standard bodies have proposed channel models for frequencies below 100 GHz. Presently, little is known about the radio channel above 100 GHz where there are much wider unused bandwidth slots available. This paper summarizes wireless communication research and activities above 100 GHz, overviews the results of previously published propagation measurements at D-band (110–170 GHz), provides the design of a 140 GHz wideband channel sounder system, and proposes indoor wideband propagation measurements and penetration measurements for common materials at 140 GHz which were not previously investigated.

Spatial-Wideband Effect in Massive MIMO with Application in mmWave Systems

Abstract: Massive MIMO, especially in the millimeter- wave frequency bands, has been recognized as a promising technique to enhance spectrum and energy efficiency, as well as network coverage for wireless communications. Most research in massive MIMO just uses the extended conventional MIMO channel model by directly assuming that the channel dimensionality becomes large. With massive numbers of antennas, however, there exists a non-negligible propagation delay across the large array aperture, which then causes a transmitted symbol to reach different antennas with different delays, thereby rendering conventional MIMO channel models inapplicable. Such a phenomenon is known as the spatial-wideband effect in the areas of array signal processing and radar signal processing, and introduces the beam squint effect in beamforming. However, the spatial-wideband effect and the related beam squint issue are seldom studied in massive MIMO communications. To design a practical massive MIMO system, it is important to understand when the spatial-wideband effect appears and how it affects signal transmission, how the spatial-wideband effect interacts with the frequency-wideband effect (frequency selectivity), especially for multi-carrier modulations such as orthogonal frequency- division multiplexing (OFDM), and how we should re-design the transceiver. In this article we suggest a new massive MIMO channel model that embraces both the spatial- and frequency- wideband effects, and discuss these issues.

Position Locationing for Millimeter Wave Systems

Abstract: The vast amount of spectrum available for millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless communication systems will support accurate real-time positioning concurrent with communication signaling. This paper demonstrates that accurate estimates of the position of an unknown node can be determined using estimates of time of arrival (ToA), angle of arrival (AoA), as well as data fusion or machine learning. Real-world data at 28 GHz and 73 GHz is used to show that AoA-based localization techniques will need to be augmented with other positioning techniques. The fusion of AoA-based positioning with received power measurements for RXs in an office which has dimensions of 35 m by 65.5 m is shown to provide location accuracies ranging from 16 cm to 3.25 m, indicating promise for accurate positioning capabilities in future networks. Received signal strength intensity (RSSI) based positioning techniques that exploit the ordering of the received power can be used to determine rough estimates of user position. Prediction of received signal characteristics is done using 2-D ray tracing.

Propagation Measurement System and Approach at 140 GHz-Moving to 6G and Above 100 GHz

Abstract: With the relatively recent realization that millimeter wave frequencies are viable for mobile communications, extensive measurements and research have been conducted on frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz, and several global wireless standard bodies have proposed channel models for frequencies below 100 GHz. Presently, little is known about the radio channel above 100 GHz where there are much wider unused bandwidth slots available. This paper summarizes wireless communication research and activities above 100 GHz, overviews the results of previously published propagation measurements at D-band (110-170 GHz), provides the design of a 140 GHz wideband channel sounder system, and proposes indoor wideband propagation measurements and penetration measurements for common materials at 140 GHz which were not previously investigated.

Analytical Framework of Hybrid Beamforming in Multi-Cell Millimeter-Wave Systems

Abstract: Multi-cell wireless systems usually encounter both intra-cell and inter-cell interference, which can be mitigated via coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission. Previous works on multi-cell analysis in the microwave band generally consider fully digital beamforming, requiring a complete radio-frequency chain behind each antenna. This is practically infeasible for millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems where large amounts of antennas are necessary to provide sufficient gain and to enable transmission/reception of multiple streams to/from a user. This paper provides a general methodology to analytically compute the expected per-cell spectral efficiency of an mmWave multi-cell single-stream system using phase-shifter-based analog beamforming and regularized zero-forcing digital beamforming. Four analog–digital hybrid beamforming techniques for multi-cell multi-stream mmWave communication are proposed, assuming that base stations in different cells can share channel state information to cooperatively transmit signals to their home-cell users. Spectral efficiency of the proposed hybrid beamforming approaches is investigated and compared using two channel models suitable for fifth-generation cellular systems, namely the 3rd Generation Partnership Project model and the NYUSIM model. Numerical results show that the benefits of base station coordination (as compared with the non-CoMP case) are governed by the underlying propagation model, and the aggregate interference levels proportional to the cell radius and number of users per cell. We show that in sparse channels, non-CoMP approaches exceed CoMP (coordinated beamforming) performance.

Hybrid beamforming for 5G millimeter-wave multi-cell networks

Abstract: Multi-cell wireless systems usually suffer both intra-cell and inter-cell interference, which can be mitigated via coordinated multipoint (CoMP) techniques. Previous works on multi-cell analysis for the microwave band generally consider fully digital beamforming that requires a complete radio-frequency chain behind each antenna, which is less practical for millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems where large amounts of antennas are necessary to provide sufficient beamforming gain and to enable transmission and reception of multiple data streams per user. This paper proposes four analog and digital hybrid beamforming schemes for multi-cell multi-user multi-stream mmWave communication, leveraging CoMP. Spectral efficiency performances of the proposed hybrid beamforming approaches are investigated and compared using both the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and NYUSIM channel models. Simulation results show that CoMP based on maximizing signal-to-leakage-plus-noise ratio can improve spectral efficiency as compared to the no-coordination case, and spectral efficiency gaps between different beamforming approaches depend on the interference level that is influenced by the cell radius and the number of users per cell.

Public Safety Communications above 6 GHz: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract: Advanced public safety communication (PSC) services call for fast, reliable and low-latency communication technologies, capable of supporting diverse communication modes (aerial, unmanned, vehicular, and peer-to-peer), fast channel dynamics, and ad hoc or mesh structures. For this reason, PSC has been identified as one of the key potential uses cases for the next generation of communication systems, the so-called 5G. In this scenario, the millimeter wave (mmWave) bands and other frequencies above 6 GHz are particularly interesting, since they are largely untapped and offer vastly more spectrum than current cellular allocations in the highly congested bands below 6 GHz, thus enabling orders of magnitude greater data rates and reduced latency. For example, new PSC networks in the mmWave bands could support high-definition video, virtual reality, and other broadband data to large numbers of first responders. Surveillance drones or ambulances could also be provided high-speed connectivity along with machine-type communication for remotely controlled robotic devices entering dangerous areas. However, the way towards this ambitious goal is hindered by a number of open research challenges. In this paper, after a brief introduction to PSC services and requirements, we illustrate the potential of the frequencies above 6 GHz for PSC and discuss the open problems that need to be solved in order to pave this way. Finally, we describe the main components of a test platform for mmWave systems that is functional to the study of such complex scenarios and that we plan to develop as an invaluable tool for realizing mmWave PSC networks.

Wideband $N$ -Beam Arrays Using Low-Complexity Algorithms and Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits

Abstract: This paper proposes a low-complexity wideband beamforming subarray for millimeter wave (mmW) 5G wireless communications. The multibeam subarray is based on using a novel delay Vandermonde matrix (DVM) algorithm to efficiently generate analog true-time-delay beams that have no beam squint. A factorization for the DVM leading to low-complexity analog realizations is provided and complexity analysis for real and complex inputs is derived. The DVM is a special case of a Vandermonde matrix but with complex nodes that lack any special properties (unlike the discrete Fourier transform matrix). Error bounds for the DVM are established and then analyzed for numerical stability. Mixed-signal CMOS integrated circuits designs are proposed for the implementation of DVM multibeam algorithms along with low-complexity digital realizations to achieve hybrid beamforming for mmW applications. Analog–digital hybrid mmW multibeam beamforming circuits and systems are designed, for example, with eight beams at 28 GHz and simulated in cadence for functional verification.

Millimeter-Wave Extended NYUSIM Channel Model for Spatial Consistency

Abstract: Commonly used drop-based channel models cannot satisfy the requirements of spatial consistency for millimeterwave (mmWave) channel modeling where transient motion or closely-spaced users need to be considered. A channel model having spatial consistency can capture the smooth variations of channels, when a user moves, or when multiple users are close to each other in a local area within, say, 10 $m$ in an outdoor scenario. Spatial consistency is needed to support the testing of beamforming and beam tracking for massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user MIMO in fifth-generation (5G) mmWave mobile networks. This paper presents a channel model extension and an associated implementation of spatial consistency in the NYUSIM channel simulation platform [1], [2]. Along with a mathematical model, we use measurements where the user moved along a street and turned at a corner over a path length of 75 $m$ in order to derive realistic values of several key parameters such as correlation distance and the rate of cluster birth and death, that are shown to provide spatial consistency for NYUSIM in an urban microcell street canyon scenario.

Hybrid Beamforming for 5G Millimeter-Wave Multi-Cell Networks

Abstract: Multi-cell wireless systems usually suffer both intra-cell and inter-cell interference, which can be mitigated via coordinated multipoint (CoMP) techniques. Previous works on multi-cell analysis for the microwave band generally consider fully digital beamforming that requires a complete radio-frequency chain behind each antenna, which is less practical for millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems where large amounts of antennas are necessary to provide sufficient beamforming gain and to enable transmission and reception of multiple data streams per user. This paper proposes four analog and digital hybrid beamforming schemes for multi-cell multi-user multi-stream mmWave communication, leveraging CoMP. Spectral efficiency performances of the proposed hybrid beamforming approaches are investigated and compared using both the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and NYUSIM channel models. Simulation results show that CoMP based on maximizing signal-to-leakage-plus-noise ratio can improve spectral efficiency as compared to the no-coordination case, and spectral efficiency gaps between different beamforming approaches depend on the interference level that is influenced by the cell radius and the number of users per cell.

Position Locationing for Millimeter Wave Systems

Abstract: The vast amount of spectrum available for millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless communication systems will support accurate real-time positioning concurrent with communication signaling. This paper demonstrates that accurate estimates of the position of an unknown node can be determined using estimates of time of arrival (ToA), angle of arrival (AoA), as well as data fusion or machine learning. Real-world data at 28 GHz and 73 GHz is used to show that AoA-based localization techniques will need to be augmented with other positioning techniques. The fusion of AoA-based positioning with received power measurements for RXs in an office which has dimensions of 35 m by 65.5 m is shown to provide location accuracies ranging from 16 cm to 3.25 m, indicating promise for accurate positioning capabilities in future networks. Received signal strength intensity (RSSI) based positioning techniques that exploit the ordering of the received power can be used to determine rough estimates of user position. Prediction of received signal characteristics is done using 2-D ray tracing.

Analog Approximate-FFT 8/16-Beam Algorithms, Architectures and CMOS Circuits for 5G Beamforming MIMO Transceivers

Abstract: Emerging millimeter-wave (mmW) wireless systems require beamforming and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) approaches in order to mitigate path loss, obstructions, and attenuation of the communication channel. Sharp mmW beams are essential for this purpose and must support baseband bandwidths of at least 1 GHz to facilitate higher system capacity. This paper explores a baseband multi-beamforming method based on the spatial Fourier transform. Approximate computing techniques are used to propose a low-complexity fast algorithm with sparse factorizations that neatly map to integer $W/L$ ratios in CMOS current mirrors. The resulting approximate fast Fourier transform (FFT) can thus be efficiently realized using CMOS analog integrated circuits to generate multiple, parallel mmW beams in both transmit and receive modes. The paper proposes both 8- and 16-point approximate-FFT algorithms together with circuit theory and design information for 65-nm CMOS implementations. Post-layout simulations of the 8-point circuit in Cadence Spectre provide well-defined mmW beam shapes, a baseband bandwidth of 2.7 GHz, a power consumption of 70 mW, and a dynamic range >42.2 dB. Preliminary experimental results confirm the basic functionality of the 8-beam circuit. Schematic-level analysis of the 16-beam I/Q version show worst-case and average side lobe levels of −10.2 dB and −12.2 dB at 1 GHz bandwidth, and −9.1 dB and −11.3 dB at 1.5 GHz bandwidth. The proposed multi-beam architectures have the potential to reduce circuit area and power requirements while meeting the bandwidth requirements of emerging 5G baseband systems.

Simulating Motion - Incorporating Spatial Consistency into NYUSIM Channel Model

Abstract: This paper describes an implementation of spatial consistency in the NYUSIM channel simulation platform. NYUSIM is a millimeter wave (mmWave) channel simulator that realizes measurement-based channel models based on a wide range of multipath channel parameters, including realistic multipath time delays and multipath components that arrive at different 3-D angles in space, and generates life-like samples of channel impulse responses (CIRs) that statistically match those measured in the real world. To properly simulate channel impairments and variations for adaptive antenna algorithms or channel state feedback, channel models should implement spatial consistency which ensures correlated channel responses over short time and distance epochs. The ability to incorporate spatial consistency into channel simulators will be essential to explore the ability to train and deploy massive multiple- input and multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user beamforming in next-generation mobile communication systems. This paper implements spatial consistency in NYUSIM for when a user is moving in a square area with the side length 15 m. The spatial consistency extension will enable NYUSIM to generate realistic evolutions of temporal and spatial characteristics of the wideband CIRs for mobile users in motion, or for multiple users who are in close proximity to one another.

Verification and Calibration of Antenna Cross-Polarization Discrimination and Penetration Loss for Millimeter Wave Communications

Abstract: This article presents measurement guidelines and verification procedures for antenna cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) and penetration loss measurements for millimeter wave (mmWave) channel sounder systems. These techniques are needed to ensure accurate and consistent measurements by different researchers at different frequencies and bandwidths. Measurements at 73 GHz are used to demonstrate and verify the guidelines, and show the consistency of the antenna XPD factor and the penetration loss at different transmitter-receiver (T-R) separation distances, thus providing a systematic method that may be used at any frequency for reliable field measurements.

Millimeter-wave Extended NYUSIM Channel Model for Spatial Consistency

Abstract: Commonly used drop-based channel models cannot satisfy the requirements of spatial consistency for millimeter-wave (mmWave) channel modeling where transient motion or closely-spaced users need to be considered. A channel model having \textit{spatial consistency} can capture the smooth variations of channels, when a user moves, or when multiple users are close to each other in a local area within, say, 10 m in an outdoor scenario. Spatial consistency is needed to support the testing of beamforming and beam tracking for massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user MIMO in fifth-generation (5G) mmWave mobile networks. This paper presents a channel model extension and an associated implementation of spatial consistency in the NYUSIM channel simulation platform. Along with a mathematical model, we use measurements where the user moved along a street and turned at a corner over a path length of 75 m in order to derive realistic values of several key parameters such as correlation distance and the rate of cluster birth and death, that are shown to provide spatial consistency for NYUSIM in an urban microcell street canyon scenario.

Verification and Calibration of Antenna Cross-Polarization Discrimination and Penetration Loss for Millimeter Wave Communications

Abstract: This article presents measurement guidelines and verification procedures for antenna cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) and penetration loss measurements for millimeter wave (mmWave) channel sounder systems. These techniques are needed to ensure accurate and consistent measurements by different researchers at different frequencies and bandwidths. Measurements at 73 GHz are used to demonstrate and verify the guidelines, and show the consistency of the antenna XPD factor and the penetration loss at different transmitter-receiver (T-R) separation distances, thus providing a systematic method that may be used at any frequency for reliable field measurements.

Simulating Motion - Incorporating Spatial Consistency into the NYUSIM Channel Model

Abstract: This paper describes an implementation of spatial consistency in the NYUSIM channel simulation platform. NYUSIM is a millimeter wave (mmWave) channel simulator that realizes measurement-based channel models based on a wide range of multipath channel parameters, including realistic multipath time delays and multipath components that arrive at different 3-D angles in space, and generates life-like samples of channel impulse responses (CIRs) that statistically match those measured in the real world. To properly simulate channel impairments and variations for adaptive antenna algorithms or channel state feedback, channel models should implement spatial consistency which ensures correlated channel responses over short time and distance epochs. The ability to incorporate spatial consistency into channel simulators will be essential to explore the ability to train and deploy massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) and multi-user beamforming in next-generation mobile communication systems. This paper reviews existing modeling approaches to spatial consistency, and describes an implementation of spatial consistency in NYUSIM for when a user is moving in a square area having a side length of 15 m. The spatial consistency extension will enable NYUSIM to generate realistic evolutions of temporal and spatial characteristics of the wideband CIRs for mobile users in motion, or for multiple users who are relatively close to one another.