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arXiv · 2102.12169

Digital-Twin-Enabled 6G: Vision, Architectural Trends, and Future Directions

Latif U. Khan·Walid Saad·Dusit Niyato·Zhu Han·Choong Seon Hong
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Abstract

Internet of Everything (IoE) applications such as haptics, human-computer interaction, and extended reality, using the sixth-generation (6G) of wireless systems have diverse requirements in terms of latency, reliability, data rate, and user-defined performance metrics. Therefore, enabling IoE applications over 6G requires a new framework that can be used to manage, operate, and optimize the 6G wireless system and its underlying IoE services. Such a new framework for 6G can be based on digital twins. Digital twins use a virtual representation of the 6G physical system along with the associated algorithms (e.g., machine learning, optimization), communication technologies (e.g., millimeter-wave and terahertz communication), computing systems (e.g., edge computing and cloud computing), as well as privacy and security-related technologists (e.g., blockchain). First, we present the key design requirements for enabling 6G through the use of a digital twin. Next, the architectural components and trends such as edge-based twins, cloud-based-twins, and edge-cloud-based twins are presented. Furthermore, we provide a comparative description of various twins. Finally, we outline and recommend guidelines for several future research directions.

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Latif U. Khan, Walid Saad, Dusit Niyato, Zhu Han, Choong Seon Hong. 2021-02-24. Digital-Twin-Enabled 6G: Vision, Architectural Trends, and Future Directions. https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.12169

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