Media-Based Modulation via Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems lack the ability to efficiently overlay additional information on signals during beamforming, limiting the flexibility and capacity of wireless communications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) with configurable elements that can redirect and modulate signals by adjusting phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization, enabling the overlay of additional information while beamforming signals towards receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wireless communication systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the ability to overlay additional information on signals is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) as an intermediary device between the transmitter and receiver. The RIS comprises multiple configurable elements that can be independently controlled to redirect and modulate signals. This intermediary enables the overlay of additional information on signals by controlling the phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization of reflected waves, thereby increasing adaptability without requiring fundamental changes to the core communication system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The RIS employs configurable elements that can dynamically adjust their properties in real-time. Each element can be configured to provide different phase shifts, amplitude changes, frequency modifications, and polarization rotations based on control signals. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying communication needs and overlay additional information on signals without requiring a completely static system design.
2Productivity
If higher order modulation schemes are used to increase data capacity, then the data capacity increases, but the transmission power requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple parameters of the signal simultaneously using the RIS configurable elements: phase, amplitude, frequency, and polarization. By controlling these parameters through the RIS, the system can achieve higher order modulation and increase data capacity without requiring proportional increases in transmission power. The RIS effectively uses its configurability to encode additional information in the signal characteristics rather than relying solely on power increases.
3Measurement precision
If beamforming is used to redirect signals, then the signal directionality is improved, but the flexibility to overlay additional information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The RIS configurable elements perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide beamforming for signal directionality control and enable additional information overlay through modulation. Each element can be configured to achieve both beamforming objectives and information overlay objectives, making the system multi-functional. This universality allows the same device to handle both signal redirection and additional data transmission without requiring separate dedicated systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances communication capabilities by providing multiple degrees of freedom for data overlay, improving signal-to-noise ratio and enabling higher order modulation schemes without increasing transmission power, thus increasing data capacity and flexibility in wireless communication networks.
Implementation Method 1
receiving first configuration information for enabling the RIS to redirect the signal by beamforming
Implementation Method 2
use phase shifting ability of the RIS configurable elements to provide many degrees of freedom that enable data overlaying on transmitted signals
Implementation Method 3
The phase shifting capabilities of the RIS elements can provide amplitude, phase, frequency, and polarization manipulations
Implementation Method 4
MBM can be realized by changing one or more radio frequency (RF) properties between the transmitter and receiver; e.g., permittivity, permeability and resistivity, of the propagation environment
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and devices that use the RIS phase shifting ability to provide many degrees of freedom to enable data to be overlaid on transmitted signals. The data overlay is done while the RIS is still beamforming the signal towards the receiver(s). The phase shifting capabilities of the RIS elements can provide amplitude, phase, frequency, and polarization manipulations. These manipulations can help enhance the communication and provide the ability to overlay information. The present application also provides new configuration signaling among devices in a communication network utilizing the RIS and configuration for the RIS.