Simultaneous Transmitting and Reflecting-Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface in 6G: Design Guidelines and Future Perspectives

Waqas Khalid, Zeeshan Kaleem, Rehmat Ullah, Trinh Van Chien, Song Noh, Heejung Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have been considered as a promising technology for the sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks that can control wireless channels in a desirable way and significantly enhance the network performance. Simultaneous transmitting and reflecting-RISs (STAR-RISs) can overcome limitation of reflecting-only RISs by leveraging the higher design flexibility and full-space coverage. Despite the benefits, the modeling and analysis of STAR-RISs are complicated because of various control parameters for both transmission and reflection links. In this article, a general framework to facilitate the design and implementation of STAR-RISs in 6G scenarios and network topologies is presented. We provide a systematic introduction to the STAR-RIS operating protocols for different communication modes and discuss recent efforts to identify the research progress and combination solutions. Finally, we provide the design concepts, research challenges, potential solutions, and future directions related to the channel modeling, channel estimation, hardware implementations, modeling and limitations, and optimization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-181
Number of pages9
JournalIEEE Network
Volume37
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • 6G mobile communication
  • Channel estimation
  • NOMA
  • Optimization
  • Protocols
  • Rayleigh channels
  • Wireless communication

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