Mobile communications networks are, once again, in the transition between generations. The need for lower latency, higher capacity, reliability and system security is paving the path to 5G. Broadband public safety and mission critical networks, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) rely on advances in wireless communications technology. Fundamental and experimental research is needed to support development and standardization of next-generation communications and control systems with improved reliability, precision, response time and security. The research question then becomes how to achieve higher reliability and security while reducing latency and leveraging access to shared radio frequency (RF) spectrum.
Spectrum Sharing, Interference and Energy Management
Improved heterogeneous interference models and resource management mechanisms are needed for better RF coexistence and higher spectral and energy-efficiencies across heterogeneous systems and devices. My long-term research goal is contributing to resource management that enables tighter integration with advanced digital signal processing (DSP) for better interference tolerance and higher spectral and energy efficiency. One solution is allowing interference, either by design or by circumstance, and separating the signals at the receiver through DSP. The additional degrees of freedom of multiple-antenna systems facilitate introducing new resource management schemes to improve energy efficiency. A radio environment map-empowered spectrum access system enables inferring spectral opportunities and optimizing waveform parameters.
Softwarization of Wireless Networks
Centralized baseband processing and virtualization of the core network has gained industry acceptance. Holistic wireless network virtualization will enable efficient resource deployment and effective sharing. The further integration of RF, communications and computing will continue shaping wireless networks. I envisage dynamic protocols where physical channels are assembled from virtual channels for increased flexibility and where content is cached to enable on-demand service and quality of service for high-throughput and latency-sensitive applications.
Cyber Resilience of Next Generation Wireless Systems and Networks
Research has shown that the 4G long-term evolution (LTE) control channels are particularly vulnerable to intentional and unintentional RF interference. More recently, we found that the way LTE handles interference and manages resources is not suitable for effectively responding to new sources of interference. This research thrust proposes analyzing emerging 5G specifications and applications (smart grid, C-V2X, IoT, UAS) to develop (1) standard-specific solutions and (2) fundamental methodologies that leverage graph theory and the powerful machine learning tools for advancing the cyber resilience of wireless systems and networks subject to jamming, spoofing, eavesdropping, node capture, and unforeseen attacks or system anomalies. The softwarization of wireless networks provides the necessary flexibility, but, at the same time, introduces new security concerns. Modeling user behavior and analyzing communications and mobility patterns in different circumstance, including natural disasters, enables gaining important insights into the health and dynamics of the nation’s ICT infrastructure and societal changes.