Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

The successful deployment of wireless cellular networks (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems) enables mobile users using smartphones or tablets to launch different applications including voice, Internet web browsing, video conferencing, video streaming, social networking, and other location-based services. The emerging fifth generation (5G) wireless systems and beyond aim to support other new services and applications with diverse service requirements. The Third Generation Partnership Project and the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance have defined a number of use cases. They include: (a) enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), which supports applications such as ultra-high-definition 3D video streaming, virtual/augmented reality; and (b) ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), which support applications such as tactile Internet and those Internet of Things (IoT) applications that require a latency of 10 milliseconds or less as well as a reliability of more than 99.999%. In this project, our long-term objective is focused on developing a flexible, scalable, and robust heterogeneous wireless mobile network architecture framework, which supports efficient network slicing, mobile network virtualization, flexible air interface, and multi-radio access technologies. To achieve this long-term objective, we have identified the following short-term objectives that will make an immediate impact: (1) develop efficient network slicing techniques and flexible air interfaces to support different applications, including eMBB, URLLC and tactile Internet; (2) design practical millimeter wave based beamforming and scheduling algorithms to increase network capacity in a scalable manner and to support seamless handover to facilitate users' mobility; and (3) develop wireless coded caching techniques to increase the per-user throughput and improve the delay performance. The outcomes are expected to benefit our industrial partners by promoting technical methods and standard policies that lead to service improvement, cost reduction, and long-term competitiveness. The project will prepare a large number of highly qualified personnel to serve the needs of the fast-evolving field of 5G wireless systems in Canada.