A novel communication paradigm for high capacity and security via programmable indoor wireless environments in next generation wireless systems

Abstract

Wireless communication environments comprise passive objects that cause performance degradation and eavesdropping concerns due to anomalous scattering. This paper proposes a new paradigm, where scattering becomes software-defined and, subsequently, optimizable across wide frequency ranges. Through the proposed programmable wireless environments, the path loss, multi-path fading and interference effects can be controlled and mitigated. Moreover, the eavesdropping can be prevented via novel physical layer security capabilites. The core technology of this new paradigm is the concept of metasurfaces, which are planar intelligent structures whose effects on impinging electromagnetic waves are fully defined by their micro-structure. Their control over impinging waves has been demonstrated to span from 1 GHz to 10 THz. This paper contributes the software-programmable wireless environment, consisting of several Hyper-Surface tiles (programmable metasurfaces) controlled by a central server. Hy-perSurfaces are a novel class of metasurfaces whose structure and, hence, electromagnetic behavior can be altered and controlled via a software interface. Multiple networked tiles coat indoor objects, allowing fine-grained, customizable reflection, absorption or polarization overall. A central server calculates and deploys the optimal electromagnetic interaction per tile, to the benefit of communicating devices. Realistic simulations using full 3D ray-tracing demonstrate the groundbreaking performance and security potential of the proposed approach in 2.4 GHz and 60 GHz frequencies.

3D Channel Modeling and Characterization for Hypersurface Empowered Indoor Environment at 60 GHz Millimeter-Wave Band

“…In this section, we outline the HSF tile hardware components, the tile intra and inter-networking and the environment control software [12]. A schematic overview is given in Fig.…”

“…As detailed in Fig. 1, HSF tile has three layers to realize all functions required for its use in wireless communication, namely, the metasurface layer, the intra-tile control layer, and the tile gateway layer [12]. Specifically, the metasurface layer is comprised of the meta-atoms of subwavelength size whose configuration is adjustable according to the EM function.…”

An Interpretable Neural Network for Configuring Programmable Wireless Environments

“…Programmable wireless environments (PWEs) are created by coating major parts of a setting (e.g., ceilings in a floorplan [8]) with SDM tiles [2], [9], as shown in Fig. 1-right.…”

Exploration of Intercell Wireless Millimeter-Wave Communication in the Landscape of Intelligent Metasurfaces

“…This allows the MS to (i) be autonomous, adapting to the environment without external intervention and (ii) be seamlessly interconnected with other MSs, to then (iii) implement distributed sensing and intelligence both at the MS or system levels. The approach enables many exciting applications in robotics or within the exploding spectrum of ultra-compact Internet-of-Things (IoT) platforms: highcapacity wireless networks, physical-layer security, intelligent wireless environments, distributed beamforming, spatial-index modulations [25]- [29]. Fig.…”