arXiv subjects

Alexis A. Dowhuszko

Publications and source records attributed to Alexis A. Dowhuszko.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Joint Visible Light and Backscatter Communications for Proximity-Based Indoor Asset Tracking Enabled by Energy-Neutral Devices

In next-generation wireless systems, providing location-based mobile computing services for energy-neutral devices has become a crucial objective for the provision of sustainable Internet of Things (IoT). Visible light positioning (VLP) has gained great research attention as a complementary method to radio frequency (RF) solutions since it can leverage ubiquitous lighting infrastructure. However, conventional VLP receivers often rely on photodetectors or cameras that are power-hungry, complex, and expensive. To address this challenge, we propose a hybrid indoor asset tracking system that integrates visible light communication (VLC) and backscatter communication (BC) within a simultaneous lightwave information and power transfer (SLIPT) framework. We design a low-complexity and energy-neutral IoT node, namely backscatter device (BD) which harvests energy from light-emitting diode (LED) access points, and then modulates and reflects ambient RF carriers to indicate its location within particular VLC cells. We present a multi-cell VLC deployment with frequency division multiplexing (FDM) method that mitigates interference among LED access points by assigning them distinct frequency pairs based on a four-color map scheduling principle. We develop a lightweight particle filter (PF) tracking algorithm at an edge RF reader, where the fusion of proximity reports and the received backscatter signal strength are employed to track the BD. Experimental results show that this approach achieves the positioning error of 0.318 m at 50th percentile and 0.634 m at 90th percentile, while avoiding the use of complex photodetectors and active RF synthesizing components at the energy-neutral IoT node. By demonstrating robust performance in multiple indoor trajectories, the proposed solution enables scalable, cost-effective, and energy-neutral indoor tracking for pervasive and edge-assisted IoT applications.

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arXiv2026

Joint Visible Light and RF Backscatter Communications for Ambient IoT Network: Fundamentals, Applications, and Opportunities

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the sixth generation (6G) wireless networks raises significant sustainability and scalability challenges due to energy consumption, deployment complexity, and environmental impact. Ambient IoT (A-IoT), leveraging ambient energy harvesting (EH) for batteryless device operation, has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges. Among various EH and communication techniques, visible light communication (VLC) integrated with ambient backscatter communication (AmBC) offers remarkable advantages, including energy neutrality, high reliability, and enhanced security. In this article, we propose a joint VLC-AmBC architecture, emphasizing fundamental concepts, system designs, and practical implementations. We explore potential applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, smart logistics, and secure communications. We present proof-of-concept demonstrations for three distinct types of ambient backscatter devices (AmBDs): EH-Only, VLC-Relay, and VLC-Control. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing joint VLC-AmBC systems, highlighting their practical viability across various deployment scenarios. Finally, we outline future research directions, including integrated sensing and communication, as well as optimized energy-efficient deployment. Open issues, such as large-scale deployment challenges, are also discussed, thereby providing a clear roadmap for future developments in joint VLC-AmBC-enabled A-IoT ecosystems.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2026

Load Balancing in Non-Terrestrial Networks Using Free Space Optical Inter-satellite Links

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) increasingly rely on non-geostationary (NGSO) constellations that combine radio frequency (RF) feeder links (FLs) with free space optical (FSO) inter-satellite links (ISLs). Downlink performance in such systems is often constrained by uneven satellite-gateway visibility, data traffic congestion, and rain-induced FL attenuation, leaving the downlink capacity of some satellites underutilized while others become bottlenecks. To prevent such non-uniform load distribution, this paper presents a fairness-driven load balancing strategy that treats the satellite constellation in space as an anycast multi-commodity flow problem. Then, by solving an equivalent linear programming optimization problem, the proposed algorithm dynamically selects the most convenient ground station (GS) to serve each satellite and, when needed, offloads data traffic to adjacent satellites through FSO ISLs. Using a realistic MEO satellite constellation with 1550 nm FSO ISLs and Ka-band feeder links, the method stabilizes the reverse link data service, maintaining the average data rate but notably improving the worst-case throughput. Our proposed algorithm enhances the minimum downlink data rate by more than 25% in the presence of rain and by over 10% under no-rain conditions. These results demonstrate that the use of an ISL-assisted load-balancing scheme mitigates FL bottlenecks and enhances fairness across the satellite constellation, offering a scalable basis for resource allocation in future NTN systems.

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arXiv2026

Dual-Hop Joint Visible Light and Backscatter Communication Relaying under Finite Blocklength

This paper investigates a dual-hop joint visible light communication (VLC) and backscatter communication (BC) relaying framework under the finite blocklength (FBL) constraint, aiming at energy-neutral Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) deployments. In the proposed system, indoor LED access points are used to simultaneously provide illumination and transmit information over light to a backscatter device (BD), which harvests optical energy and backscatters the received messages to user equipments (UEs) equipped with radio frequency (RF) front ends. This forwarding of the information from VLC to RF channels is implemented without the need for carrier synthesizers and power amplifiers at the IoT node. By modeling the end-to-end communication link with short-packet IoT traffic and realistic levels of interference between adjacent VLC coverage areas, we analyze the outage performance and achievable data rate of the proposed system. Simulation results demonstrate that key factors, such as placement and orientation of the BD, as well as the selected code rate of the system affect reliability and data rate that can be achieved for communication purposes. The insights gained from this study pave the way for ambient power-enabled IoT solutions and future hybrid VLC/RF network designs.

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arXiv2026

Symbol Rate Maximization in Rolling-Shutter OCC: Design and Implementation Considerations

Optical Camera Communication (OCC) systems can take advantage of the row-by-row scanning process of rolling-shutter cameras to capture the fast variations of light intensity coming from Visible Light Communication (VLC) LED-based transmitters. In order to study the maximum data rate that is feasible in such kind of OCC systems, this paper presents its equivalent digital communication system model in which the rolling-shutter camera is modeled as a rectangular matched-filter whose time width is equal to the exposure time of the camera, followed by a sampling process at the pixel row sweep rate of the camera. Based on the proposed rolling-shutter camera model, the maximum symbol rate that such OCC systems can support is experimentally demonstrated, and the impact of imperfect time synchronization between the VLC transmitter and the rolling-shutter OCC receiver is characterized in the form of Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI). The equivalent three-tap channel model that results from this process is experimentally validated and the generated ISI is compensated with the use of linear equalization in reception. Simulation and experimental results show a strong correlation between them, demonstrating that the proposed approach can be used to make the OCC system work at the Nyquist sampling rate, which is equivalent to the pixel row sweep rate of the rolling-shutter camera used in reception.

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arXiv2025

Guaranteeing Line-of-Sight Wireless Connectivity in Stochastic Environments with Random Obstacles

Advancements in high-frequency communication technologies using millimeter waves (mmWave), Tera- Hertz (THz), and optical wireless frequency bands are key for extending wireless connectivity beyond 5G. These technologies offer a broader spectrum than the one available on low- and mid-bands, enabling ultra-high-speed data rates, higher device density, enhanced security, and improved positioning accuracy. However, their performance relies heavily on clear Line-of-Sight (LoS) conditions, as Non-LoS components are significantly weaker, making blockages a major challenge to ensure suitable received signal power. This paper addresses this limitation by identifying the minimum number and optimal placement of access points (APs) needed to ensure LoS connectivity in stochastic/dynamic environments with random obstacle locations. To achieve this, the stochastic environment is carefully modeled as a graph, where the nodes represent sub-polygons of layout realizations, and the edges capture the visibility overlaps between them. By employing maximal clique clustering and maximum clique packing methods over this graph, the proposed approach determines the AP placement locations that guarantee either full LoS coverage or controlled LoS gaps, while seamlessly adapting to the stochastic variability in obstacle locations. Simulations results in a representative stochastic environment demonstrate a 25% reduction in the required number of APs, achieving a tolerable 5% coverage gap compared to AP deployment optimized for full LoS coverage.

math.OC↗

arXiv2023

Indoor Planning of Optical Wireless Networks for LoS Condition in Access and Backhauling

Optical wireless technology has the potential to complement the wireless access services provided so far over RF. Apart from the abundant unlicensed bandwidth available for ultra-dense deployments over optical wireless bands, optical wireless also has the potential to offer inexpensive, private, secure, and environmentally friendly communications. However, the main challenge of this technology is the inability to pass through obstacles, requiring a Line-of-Sight~(LoS) condition between transmitter and receiver. In addition, when LEDs are used to provide simultaneously wireless access and illumination, the range of the optical wireless links is notably limited. Since the typical size of Visible Light Communications~(VLC) cells is in the order of few meters, it is challenging to plan the detailed deployment of Access Points~(APs) to prevent coverage holes. This paper proposes a graph modeling approach for identifying the minimum number of APs (and their locations) for the given indoor floor plan. A connectivity tree is considered to ensure that each VLC AP can communicate with (an)other AP(s) through a LoS infrared wireless link for backhauling. The presented deployment procedure can also control the co-channel interference that is generated throughout the entire indoor environment, enhancing the data rate and illumination performance of VLC networks simultaneously.

math.OC↗

arXiv2023

Deployment of Reference Nodes to Guarantee a LoS Condition for Accurate Indoor Positioning

Accurate and precise positioning is required to guarantee the massive adoption of a wide range of 5G indoor applications, such as logistics and smart manufacturing. Native support for New Radio (NR) positioning services was included in 3GPP Rel-16, where angles-of-arrival/departure and time- (difference-)of-arrival measurements were specified in uplink and downlink. However, all these positioning techniques assume Lineof-Sight (LoS) propagation, suffering from systematic bias errors when such a condition cannot be guaranteed. To improve the accuracy and precision of indoor positioning systems that rely on proximity, triangulation, or trilateration principles, this paper considers the deployment of reference nodes to ensure LoS to one, two, or three nodes, respectively. For this purpose, the indoor service area is modeled with a graph whose nodes represent the polygons that partition the floor plan. Then, the graph is partitioned into the minimum number of cliques, which specify the minimum number of reference nodes and their placement to guarantee a LoS condition regardless the user terminal position. The desired accuracy for positioning is guaranteed by setting a minimum distance and a minimum angle between the reference nodes as two configuration parameters of the derived algorithms.

math.OC↗

arXiv2021

Resource Allocation in a Quantum Key Distribution Network with LEO and GEO trusted-repeaters

Quantum Key Distribution~(QKD) is a technology that enables the exchange of private encryption keys between two legitimate parties, using protocols that involve quantum mechanics principles. The rate at which secret keys can be exchanged depends on the attenuation that is experienced. Therefore, it is more convenient to replace many terrestrial fiber segments (and repeaters) by just few optical satellite links that would enable flexible global coverage. Then, the satellite nodes can take the role of trusted-relays, forwarding the secret keys from source to destination. However, since the rate at which secret keys can be generated in each quantum link is limited, it is very important to select the intermediate satellite nodes to inter-connect ground stations efficiently. This paper studies the most convenient allocation of resources in a QKD network that combines complementary connectivity services of GEO and LEO satellites. The aim of the centralized routing algorithm is to select the most convenient trusted-relays to forward the secret keys between pairs of ground stations, verifying the constraints that satellite-to-ground and inter-satellite quantum channels have.

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arXiv2021

Visible light communication-based monitoring for indoor environments using unsupervised learning

Visible Light Communication~(VLC) systems provide not only illumination and data communication, but also indoor monitoring services if the effect that different events create on the received optical signal is properly tracked. For this purpose, the Channel State Information that a VLC receiver computes to equalize the subcarriers of the OFDM signal can be also reused to train an Unsupervised Learning classifier. This way, different clusters can be created on the collected CSI data, which could be then mapped into relevant events to-be-monitored in the indoor environments, such as the presence of a new object in a given position or the change of the position of a given object. When compared to supervised learning algorithms, the proposed approach does not need to add tags in the training data, simplifying notably the implementation of the machine learning classifier. The practical validation the monitoring approach was done with the aid of a software-defined VLC link based on OFDM, in which a copy of the intensity modulated signal coming from a Phosphor-converted LED was captured by a pair of Photodetectors~(PDs). The performance evaluation of the experimental VLC-based monitoring demo achieved a positioning accuracy in the few-centimeter-range, without the necessity of deploying a large number of sensors and/or adding a VLC-enabled sensor on the object to-be-tracked.

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arXiv2016

Network Resource Sharing Games with Instantaneous Reciprocity

We propose a generic strategic network resource sharing game between a set of players representing operators. The players negotiate which sets of players share given resources, serving users with varying sensitivity to interference. We prove that the proposed game has a Nash equilibrium, to which a greedily played game converges. Furthermore, simulation results show that, when applied to inter-operator spectrum sharing in small-cell indoor office environment, the convergence is fast and there is a significant performance improvement for the operators when compared to the default resource usage configuration.

cs.GT↗

arXiv2015

Coordination protocol for inter-operator spectrum sharing in co-primary 5G small cell networks

We consider spectrum sharing between a limited set of operators having similar rights for accessing spectrum. A coordination protocol acting on the level of the Radio Access Network (RAN) is designed. The protocol is non-cooperative, but assumes an agreement to a set of negotiation rules. The signaling overhead is low, and knowledge of competitor's channel state information is not assumed. No monetary transactions are involved; instead, spectrum sharing is based on a RAN-internal virtual currency. The protocol is applicable in a scenario of mutual renting and when the operators form a spectrum pool. The protocol is reactive to variations in interference and load of the operators, and shows gains in a simulated small cell scenario compared to not using any coordination protocol.

cs.NI↗