Advanced Wireless Communications | ELEC6CCC

Module overview

This course aims to introduce some advanced techniques that hold potential for applications in the future generations of wireless communication systems. Currently, research and development in wireless communications is focused on the sixth generation (6G), which is expected to significantly enhance 5G in both techniques and services. This course will cover several candidate techniques designed to enable 6G wireless systems. The course covers the various multiple access techniques such as OFDM, CDMA and SDMA. Next, it focuses on non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), a technique that allows densely deployed users (or devices) to simultaneously transmit their information. Then, based on CDMA/SDMA, the module covers a range of techniques on interference mitigation. Subsequently, the course addresses the principles of full-duplex communication, exploring the challenges of self-interference and corresponding self-interference cancellation techniques, as well as examining the potential of full-duplex for wireless system design. Then, it introduces integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), providing several examples to explain the principles and illustrate the design trade-offs. A review of the fundamentals of MIMO is then provided, followed by analysing the potential of MIMO for meeting the requirements of future wireless systems. A range of technical options for MIMO transceiver optimisation are discussed. Built on the above theoretical foundation, the course then covers the multi-user MIMO and massive MIMO, with the emphasis on their principles, characteristics, and implementation challenges. Afterwards, the module covers equalisation and multi-user detection. Finally, the course covers millimeter wave (mmWave) communications. It begins with an overview of mmWave technology, then characterizes mmWave channels, highlighting key differences from conventional radio frequency (RF) communication channels. The course concludes with an introduction to several advanced techniques for the design and optimization of mmWave systems.

Linked modules

Pre-requisites: ELEC3203 OR ELEC3204

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Exploit communication signals for sensing, and jointly optimise the designs of sensing and communication schemes.
Design full-duplex systems and exploit the potentials of full-duplex for system design.
Simulate MIMO transceivers.
Employ some skills for designing the signal processing methods for interference mitigation.
Optimise mmWave transceivers.
Design and analyse the multiple access schemes for applications in ultra-densely deployed wireless systems.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Full duplex and its challenges in practical implementation.
Multiuser MIMO and massive MIMO.
The characteristics of millimetre wave (mmWave) channels.
The principles of multiple access in wireless systems.
Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) and its opportunities for wireless system design.
The principles of MIMO and its potential through the capacity analysis of MIMO systems.

Syllabus

Mobile Radio Channels: - Large-scale fading, small-scale fading; - Doppler spread and coherent time, time-non-selective and time-selective fading, delay spread and coherent bandwith, frequency-non-selective (flat) and frequency selective fading. Multiple Access Techniques and Interference Mitigation: - Concepts of frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), space division multiple access (SDMA); - Principles of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); - Interference mitigation in CDMA/SDMA systems. Non-Orthogonal Multiple-Access (NOMA): - Principles, advantages, and implementation techniques for NOMA; - Signal detection in NOMA systems; - Sparse spreading CDMA and sparse code multiple-access, concept of factor graph for operation of message passing algorithm. Full Duplex: - Overview of duplex techniques; - Principles and challenges of full-duplex; - Self-interference and self-interference cancellation in full-duplex; - Full-duplex: opportunities for system design and implementation challenges. Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC): - Principles of sensing; - Signalling requirements in sensing and communication; - ISAC examples. MIMO, Multiuser MIMO and Massive MIMO: - Fundamentals of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO); - Capacity of MIMO systems, when channel state information (CSI) is known to transmitter, to receiver, or to both. - MIMO transmission/detection techniques; - Multiuser MIMO: principles, characteristics and transmission/detection techniques; - Massive MIMO: principles, characteristics and transmission/detection techniques; - Pilot contamination in massive MIMO; - Implementation challenges and standardisation. Millimetre Wave (mmWave) Communications: - mmWave promise and applications - a new frontier; - mmWave propagation and channel models; - Beamforming for mmWave communications: Analog beamforming, digital beamforming and hybrid Beamforming; - Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces – concept and optimization.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Classroom teaching and 2 coursework.

Study time
Type	Hours
Tutorial	12
Completion of assessment task	10
Follow-up work	18
Lecture	36
Revision	10
Preparation for scheduled sessions	18
Wider reading or practice	46
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Y. Saito, Y. Kishiyama, A. Benjebbour, T. Nakamura, A. Li and K. Higuchi (2013). Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) for Cellular Future Radio Access. Vehicular Technology Conference, 2013 IEEE 77th, (VTC Spring), pp. 1-5.

J. Schaepperle and A. Ruegg (2009). Enhancement of throughput and fairness in 4G wireless access systems by non-orthogonal signalling. Bell Labs Technical Journal, 13(4), pp. 59-78.

Textbooks

H.L.V. Trees (2005). Optimum Array Processing: Part V of Detection, Estimation, and Modulation Theory. UK: John Wiley & Sons.

L.-L. Yang (2009). Multicarrier Communications. UK: John Wiley and Sons.

A. Osseiran, et.al (2016). 5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

C. Oestges and B. Clerckx (2007). MIMO Wireless Communications: From Real-World Propagation to Space-Time Code Design. UK: Academic Press.

D. Tse and P. Viswanath (2005). Fundamentals of Wireless Communication. UK: Cambridge University Press.

T.S. Rappaport, R.W. Heath Jr., R.C. Daniels and J.N. Murdock (2015). Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications: Systems and Circuits. USA: Prentice Hall.

T.M. Cover and J.A. Thomas (1991). Elements of Information Theory. New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons.

Lie-Liang Yang, Jia Shi, Kai-Ten Feng, Li-Hsiang Shen, Sau-Hsuan Wu, Ta-Sung Lee (2025). Resource Optimization in Wireless Communications: Fundamentals, Algorithms, and Applications. Academic Press.

I. Robertson, N. Somjit and M. Chongcheawchamnan (2016). Microwave and Millimetre-Wave Design for Wireless Communications. UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

S. Haykin (1996). Adaptive Filter Theory. USA: Prentice Hall.

L Hanzo, LL Yang, EL Kuan, K Yen. Single and Multi-Carrier DS-CDMA: Multi-User Detection, Space-Time Spreading, Synchronisation and standards. Wiley-IEEE Press.

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Final Assessment	70%
Continuous Assessment	30%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Examination	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Examination	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External