RIS Scheduling Protocol for Collision-Free Surface Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication networks face interference and signal degradation due to uncoordinated use of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) by multiple UEs, leading to collisions and signal processing issues.
Innovation Solution
Implement a centralized RIS scheduling protocol managed by a network entity, such as a base station, to coordinate RIS requests and avoid collisions, ensuring coordinated sensing and control of RISs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple UEs autonomously request and control RISs without centralized coordination, then each UE can independently optimize its communication link, but collisions and interference occur between simultaneous RIS sensing and control operations
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized network entity (base station or RIS controller) is introduced as an intermediary to manage RIS sensing and control operations. This mediator receives RIS requests from multiple UEs, schedules their access to RISs, and coordinates control signaling to prevent collisions. The intermediary resolves the conflict between independent UE control needs and system-wide coordination requirements by acting as a central authority that allocates RIS resources fairly and efficiently.
2Reliability
If centralized RIS scheduling is implemented to coordinate RIS requests, then collisions and interference are reduced, but network complexity and scheduling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized network entity that performs RIS scheduling is designed to multi-function, handling both traditional wireless resource allocation and RIS-specific control operations. By making the scheduler universal—capable of managing multiple types of resources (time, frequency, spatial, and RIS states)—the system avoids adding separate dedicated RIS control infrastructure, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while achieving reliable RIS coordination.
3Productivity
If RIS sensing and control signals are transmitted simultaneously by multiple UEs, then resource utilization is maximized, but signal processing issues and interference degrade performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic time-division scheduling for RIS sensing and control operations. Instead of allowing continuous simultaneous access, UEs are allocated specific time slots or periodic intervals for RIS sensing, control signaling, and data transmission. This periodic structure ensures that multiple UEs do not collide in their RIS operations, reducing interference while maintaining high overall resource utilization through efficient time packing and minimal guard periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) scheduling provided with respect to wireless communication networks is described. A base station or other network entity may serve as a central node to accommodate RIS sense and/or control requests from user equipments (UEs). A RIS scheduling protocol according to some aspects may provide a technique for avoiding potential collision at the RIS sense and/or control phases of operation with respect to RISs deployed in a wireless communication network. Using RIS scheduling, wireless communication networks may avoid or otherwise mitigate situations in which multiple sensing signals negatively impact RIS detection procedures, multiple control signals causing signal processing problems and/or control issues, and/or interference results from un-coordinated control of multiple RISs. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.