Page 147 - ITU Journal, Future and evolving technologies - Volume 1 (2020), Issue 1, Inaugural issue

ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 1 (2020), Issue 1

Key Enabler Categorization Flexibility Aspect Example Details
Multi-band flexibility microWave, mmWave, THz, visible light
Flexible Multi-Band Information source flexibility Radio signals, visible light
Utilization
Spectrum coexistence flexibility DSA, CR, and coexistence of cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks and radar systems
Modulation-option flexibility BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM, 1024QAM, etc.
Multi-domain modulation flexibility IM (shape, interval, position, etc.), space, time, frequency, etc.
Multi-type coding New types of LDPC, block coding, polar coding, etc.
MCS option flexibility Ultra adaptive MCS
Multi-option waveform flexibility Multiple numerologies for any specific waveform
Waveform processing flexibility Adaptive windowing/filtering and the related configurable parameters
CP utilization flexibility Individual and common CP utilizations
Adaptive guard utilization flexibility Flexible guards for multi-waveform and multi-numerology designs
Ultra-Flexible
Multi-waveform flexibility Waveform coexistence in the same frame
PHY and MAC
Multi-network multi-waveform flexibility Waveform coexistence for cellular and Wi-Fi networks with radar sensing
Multi-domain NOMA flexibility Partial and fully overlapped resources with waveform-domain NOMA
Multi-domain waveform flexibility Alternative lattice flexibility together with the time-frequency lattice
Multiple access flexibility Fully flexible, both orthogonal and non-orthogonal
Receiver-type flexibility Fully flexible, hybrid equalization
Bandwidth option flexibility BWP, carrier aggregation, LAA, DSA, etc.
User association flexibility Multiple options under heteregonous networks, flexible user parameter assignment
Channel access flexibility GB transmission, GF transmission, and their coexistence over a resource pool
Positioning flexibility of the access points Flying access points can be positioned flexibly in the sky
Connection link and relaying flexibility User equipment can connect to different type of access points
Altitude-based multi-network flexibility Coexistence of space, HAP, terrestrial and undersea networks
Ultra-Flexible Coverage flexibility Rural area coverage with space and HAP networks
Heterogenous Networks Network architecture flexibility Ultra massive MIMO, small cell, D2D, relaying via different networks, etc.
Cell-free network flexibility User-centric network designs, handover-free communications
Multi-cell flexibility Network MIMO solutions, multi-cell NOMA, etc.
Network slice flexibility Network slices for each user equipment, user-specific virtual networks
Integrated Sensing and Multi-system flexibility All systems can collabarate with the wireless communications in different ways
Communications Awareness flexibility Awareness in spectrum, location, mobility, context, user, channel, interference, etc.
Alternative solution flexibility No need to get stuck on conventional algorithm designs
Edge computing flexibility Signal and data processing at the edge nodes
Intelligent Communications Channel control flexibility Different types of intelligent surfaces
Interference management flexibility Interference management with the channel control
Softwarization flexibility Programmable architecture options for holographic MIMO systems
Battery-free implementation flexibility Removing battery limitations and constraints
Green Communications
Interference exploitation flexibility Interference can be useful for the energy harvesting
Multi-domain security flexibility No need to get stuck on key sharing security mechanisms, complementary solutions
Secure Communications
Wireless channel exploitation flexibility PHY security methods exploit the characteristics of wireless channel

Table 3 – Example lexibility aspects for the key enabler categories.

3.4 Integrated Sensing and Communications leveraged in 6G [114]. The information pertaining to the
radio environment can be utilized in improving network
With the emphasis on use cases such as V2X communica- deployment, optimizing user association, providing se-
tions in recent years, sensing has attained increased im- cure communications and so on. Hence, one of the unique
portance leading to the integration of these two applica- novelties of 6G systems is the integration of many differ-
tions [113]. However, the use of sensing is not limited to ent sensor hardware with the heterogeneous communi-
V2X or autonomous driving. Rather, if there is any observ- cations networks as exempli ied in Fig. 5.
able data that can be utilized for the optimization or en-
hancement of the communications systems, it should be While it might sound like a novel idea to some, Integrated

© International Telecommunication Union, 2020 127