Core Concepts
Distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) networks can efficiently integrate communication, localization, and sensing functionalities, providing benefits such as improved coverage, reliability, and resource utilization compared to traditional separate systems.
Abstract
The paper investigates the potential and challenges of integrating communication, localization, and sensing (ISAC) functionalities in D-MIMO networks for 6G.
Key highlights:
- D-MIMO architectures and deployments are discussed, including considerations for indoor/outdoor, low/high frequency bands, centralized/distributed processing, wired/wireless fronthaul and backhaul, half/full-duplex, and coherent/non-coherent processing.
- The communication, localization, and sensing perspectives of D-MIMO are analyzed, revealing synergies and conflicts between the different functionalities.
- A case study demonstrates the quantitative benefits of ISAC in D-MIMO, showing significant performance improvements in uplink spectral efficiency compared to non-ISAC systems.
- Implementation challenges related to scalability and synchronization are discussed, and a testbed demonstration is presented to highlight the practical feasibility of ISAC in D-MIMO.
- The paper concludes that ISAC in D-MIMO is a promising approach, but there are still open research problems to be addressed before practical implementation.
Stats
The sum uplink spectral efficiency can be improved by up to 16x when leveraging both localization and sensing information in the D-MIMO system, compared to the case without ISAC.
Quotes
"With D-MIMO's distributed node characteristics, more flexibility is provided in resource allocation, including time, frequency, space, and energy, across sensing, localization, and communication signals."
"Leveraging multiple multi-antenna nodes increases the likelihood of line-of-sight (LOS) links and provides the network with multiple perspectives on UEs/objects, thereby enhancing localization and sensing performance."