Wenyan Ma

Bio: Wenyan Ma is an academic researcher from Southeast University. The author has contributed to research in topics: MIMO & Communication channel. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 14 publications receiving 190 citations.

Sparse Channel Estimation and Hybrid Precoding Using Deep Learning for Millimeter Wave Massive MIMO

Abstract: Channel estimation and hybrid precoding are considered for multi-user millimeter wave massive multi-input multi-output system. A deep learning compressed sensing (DLCS) channel estimation scheme is proposed. The channel estimation neural network for the DLCS scheme is trained offline using simulated environments to predict the beamspace channel amplitude. Then the channel is reconstructed based on the obtained indices of dominant beamspace channel entries. A deep learning quantized phase (DLQP) hybrid precoder design method is developed after channel estimation. The training hybrid precoding neural network for the DLQP method is obtained offline considering the approximate phase quantization. Then the deployment hybrid precoding neural network (DHPNN) is obtained by replacing the approximate phase quantization with ideal phase quantization and the output of the DHPNN is the analog precoding vector. Finally, the analog precoding matrix is obtained by stacking the analog precoding vectors and the digital precoding matrix is calculated by zero-forcing. Simulation results demonstrate that the DLCS channel estimation scheme outperforms the existing schemes in terms of the normalized mean-squared error and the spectral efficiency, while the DLQP hybrid precoder design method has better spectral efficiency performance than other methods with low phase shifter resolution.

Target Sensing With Intelligent Reflecting Surface: Architecture and Performance

Abstract: Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) has emerged as a promising technology to reconfigure the radio propagation environment by dynamically controlling wireless signal’s amplitude and/or phase via a large number of reflecting elements. In contrast to the vast literature on studying IRS’s performance gains in wireless communications, we study in this paper a new application of IRS for sensing/localizing targets in wireless networks. Specifically, we propose a new self-sensing IRS architecture where the IRS controller is capable of transmitting probing signals that are not only directly reflected by the target (referred to as the direct echo link), but also consecutively reflected by the IRS and then the target (referred to as the IRS-reflected echo link). Moreover, dedicated sensors are installed at the IRS for receiving both the direct and IRS-reflected echo signals from the target, such that the IRS can sense the direction of its nearby target by applying a customized multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm. However, since the angle estimation mean square error (MSE) by the MUSIC algorithm is intractable, we propose to optimize the IRS passive reflection for maximizing the average echo signals’ total power at the IRS sensors and derive the resultant Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) of the angle estimation MSE. Last, numerical results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed new IRS sensing architecture and algorithm, as compared to other benchmark sensing systems/algorithms.

Sparse Channel Estimation and Hybrid Precoding Using Deep Learning for Millimeter Wave Massive MIMO.

Abstract: Channel estimation and hybrid precoding are considered for multi-user millimeter wave massive multi-input multi-output system. A deep learning compressed sensing (DLCS) channel estimation scheme is proposed. The channel estimation neural network for the DLCS scheme is trained offline using simulated environments to predict the beamspace channel amplitude. Then the channel is reconstructed based on the obtained indices of dominant beamspace channel entries. A deep learning quantized phase (DLQP) hybrid precoder design method is developed after channel estimation. The training hybrid precoding neural network for the DLQP method is obtained offline considering the approximate phase quantization. Then the deployment hybrid precoding neural network (DHPNN) is obtained by replacing the approximate phase quantization with ideal phase quantization and the output of the DHPNN is the analog precoding vector. Finally, the analog precoding matrix is obtained by stacking the analog precoding vectors and the digital precoding matrix is calculated by zero-forcing. Simulation results demonstrate that the DLCS channel estimation scheme outperforms the existing schemes in terms of the normalized mean-squared error and the spectral efficiency, while the DLQP hybrid precoder design method has better spectral efficiency performance than other methods with low phase shifter resolution.

Machine Learning for Beam Alignment in Millimeter Wave Massive MIMO

Abstract: This letter investigates beam alignment for multi-user millimeter wave (mmWave) massive multi-input multi-output system. Unlike the existing works using machine learning (ML), an alignment method with partial beams using ML (AMPBML) is proposed without any prior knowledge such as user location information. The neural network (NN) for the AMPBML is trained offline using simulated environments according to the mmWave channel model and is then deployed online to predict the beam distribution vector using partial beams. Afterwards, the beams for all users are all aligned simultaneously based on the indices of the dominant entries of the obtained beam distribution vector. Simulation results demonstrate that the AMPBML outperforms the existing methods, including the adaptive compressed sensing, hierarchical search, and multi-path decomposition and recovery, in terms of the total training time slots and the spectral efficiency.

Beamspace Channel Estimation for Millimeter Wave Massive MIMO System With Hybrid Precoding and Combining

Abstract: In this paper, a framework of beamspace channel estimation in millimeter wave massive MIMO system is proposed. The framework includes the design of hybrid precoding and combining matrix as well as the search method for the largest entry of over-sampled beamspace receiving matrix. Then based on the framework, three channel estimation schemes including identity matrix approximation (IA) based scheme, scattered zero off-diagonal (SZO) based scheme and concentrated zero off-diagonal (CZO) based scheme are proposed. These schemes together with the existing channel estimation schemes are compared in terms of computational complexity, estimation error and total time slots for channel training. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes outperform the existing schemes and can approach the performance of the ideal case. In particular, total time slots for channel training can be substantially reduced.

Prospective Multiple Antenna Technologies for Beyond 5G

Abstract: Multiple antenna technologies have attracted much research interest for several decades and have gradually made their way into mainstream communication systems. Two main benefits are adaptive beamforming gains and spatial multiplexing, leading to high data rates per user and per cell, especially when large antenna arrays are adopted. Since multiple antenna technology has become a key component of the fifth-generation (5G) networks, it is time for the research community to look for new multiple antenna technologies to meet the immensely higher data rate, reliability, and traffic demands in the beyond 5G era. Radically new approaches are required to achieve orders-of-magnitude improvements in these metrics. There will be large technical challenges, many of which are yet to be identified. In this paper, we survey three new multiple antenna technologies that can play key roles in beyond 5G networks: cell-free massive MIMO, beamspace massive MIMO, and intelligent reflecting surfaces. For each of these technologies, we present the fundamental motivation, key characteristics, recent technical progresses, and provide our perspectives for future research directions. The paper is not meant to be a survey/tutorial of a mature subject, but rather serve as a catalyst to encourage more research and experiments in these multiple antenna technologies.

Massive MIMO Systems for 5G and Beyond Networks-Overview, Recent Trends, Challenges, and Future Research Direction.

Abstract: The global bandwidth shortage in the wireless communication sector has motivated the study and exploration of wireless access technology known as massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO). Massive MIMO is one of the key enabling technology for next-generation networks, which groups together antennas at both transmitter and the receiver to provide high spectral and energy efficiency using relatively simple processing. Obtaining a better understating of the massive MIMO system to overcome the fundamental issues of this technology is vital for the successful deployment of 5G—and beyond—networks to realize various applications of the intelligent sensing system. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the key enabling technologies required for 5G and 6G networks, highlighting the massive MIMO systems. We discuss all the fundamental challenges related to pilot contamination, channel estimation, precoding, user scheduling, energy efficiency, and signal detection in a massive MIMO system and discuss some state-of-the-art mitigation techniques. We outline recent trends such as terahertz communication, ultra massive MIMO (UM-MIMO), visible light communication (VLC), machine learning, and deep learning for massive MIMO systems. Additionally, we discuss crucial open research issues that direct future research in massive MIMO systems for 5G and beyond networks.

Deep Denoising Neural Network Assisted Compressive Channel Estimation for mmWave Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces

Abstract: Integrating large intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) into millimeter-wave (mmWave) massive multi-input-multi-ouput (MIMO) has been a promising approach for improved coverage and throughput. Most existing work assumes the ideal channel estimation, which can be challenging due to the high-dimensional cascaded MIMO channels and passive reflecting elements. Therefore, this paper proposes a deep denoising neural network assisted compressive channel estimation for mmWave IRS systems to reduce the training overhead. Specifically, we first introduce a hybrid passive/active IRS architecture, where very few receive chains are employed to estimate the uplink user-to-IRS channels. At the channel training stage, only a small proportion of elements will be successively activated to sound the partial channels. Moreover, the complete channel matrix can be reconstructed from the limited measurements based on compressive sensing, whereby the common sparsity of angular domain mmWave MIMO channels among different subcarriers is leveraged for improved accuracy. Besides, a complex-valued denoising convolution neural network (CV-DnCNN) is further proposed for enhanced performance. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed solution over state-of-the-art solutions.

Integrated Sensing and Communications: Towards Dual-functional Wireless Networks for 6G and Beyond

Abstract: As the standardization of 5G is being solidified, researchers are speculating what 6G will be. Integrating sensing functionality is emerging as a key feature of the 6G Radio Access Network (RAN), allowing to exploit the dense cell infrastructure of 5G for constructing a perceptive network. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview on the background, range of key applications and state-of-the-art approaches of Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC). We commence by discussing the interplay between sensing and communications (S&C) from a historical point of view, and then consider multiple facets of ISAC and its performance gains. By introducing both ongoing and potential use cases, we shed light on industrial progress and standardization activities related to ISAC. We analyze a number of performance tradeoffs between S&C, spanning from information theoretical limits, tradeoffs in physical layer performance, to the tradeoff in cross-layer designs. Next, we discuss signal processing aspects of ISAC, namely ISAC waveform design and receive signal processing. As a step further, we provide our vision on the deeper integration between S&C within the framework of perceptive networks, where the two functionalities are expected to mutually assist each other, i.e., communication-assisted sensing and sensing-assisted communications. Finally, we summarize the paper by identifying the potential integration between ISAC and other emerging communication technologies, and their positive impact on the future of wireless networks.

Integrated Sensing and Communications: Toward Dual-Functional Wireless Networks for 6G and Beyond

Abstract: As the standardization of 5G solidifies, researchers are speculating what 6G will be. The integration of sensing functionality is emerging as a key feature of the 6G Radio Access Network (RAN), allowing for the exploitation of dense cell infrastructures to construct a perceptive network. In this IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC) Special Issue overview, we provide a comprehensive review on the background, range of key applications and state-of-the-art approaches of Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC). We commence by discussing the interplay between sensing and communications (S&C) from a historical point of view, and then consider the multiple facets of ISAC and the resulting performance gains. By introducing both ongoing and potential use cases, we shed light on the industrial progress and standardization activities related to ISAC. We analyze a number of performance tradeoffs between S&C, spanning from information theoretical limits to physical layer performance tradeoffs, and the cross-layer design tradeoffs. Next, we discuss the signal processing aspects of ISAC, namely ISAC waveform design and receive signal processing. As a step further, we provide our vision on the deeper integration between S&C within the framework of perceptive networks, where the two functionalities are expected to mutually assist each other, i.e., via communication-assisted sensing and sensing-assisted communications. Finally, we identify the potential integration of ISAC with other emerging communication technologies, and their positive impacts on the future of wireless networks.