The sixth generation (6G) of mobile networks must support the huge growth of mobile connections and provides various intelligent services in future mobile networks. For that, designing high-performance network architecture and communication systems (CSs) as well as finding coherent solutions for the determined problems is critical demand that needs to be achieved in 6G networks.Optimal solutions are mainly sought by using modifiable, smart, and perceptive algorithms aimed at optimizing more specific tasks. Therefore, advanced optimization methods are highly required to accommodate the requirements of CSs efficiently. That will be in various parts of the future networks such as advanced mobility management, multi communication links, efficient power consumption, ultra-lower latency, ultra-security, high speed, and reliable connectivity.Accordingly, highly accurate and smart functions must be modeled to optimize the required communication parameters in the network. This study provides a comprehensive overview of optimization methods that may need further investigations and developments to be applied in 6G networks at various parts of networks. A detailed theoretical description for each method is presented and discussed to elucidate future research directions for optimizing specific characteristics with multi-objective optimizations. Moreover, this article illustrates the conceptual and structural viewpoints of reported optimization methods. Also, the capability of various optimization methods that can offer industrial solutions in 6G is discussed. The potential applications of each method are also analyzed. Finally, this article presented the research issues and future directions of optimization technology and research gaps that need to be addressed before the standardization of 6G networks.
INTRODUCTIONRecently, innovative solutions of communication systems (CSs) have been developed impressively, as data traffic is increasing exponentially by more than 50% per year. 1 Several factors will contribute for increasing data demand massively, for example, as predicted by CISCO, the video will make up 82% of the all IP traffic by 2022. 2,3 This massive increase in data traffic will cause several new issues that will facing the implementation of future mobile networks. That will include a dramatic increase for wider spectrum need, 4 the necessity for big system capacity, 5 further mobility issues, 6,7 and higher energy consumption, 8 in which cannot be handled efficiently by the current cellular networks.