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Nasir Saeed

Publications and source records attributed to Nasir Saeed.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A Comprehensive Survey of Wireless Foundation Models for AI-Native 6G Networks

Foundation models are emerging as a transformative paradigm for AI-native sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks by enabling scalable, transferable, and data-efficient intelligence across diverse communication tasks. Unlike conventional deep learning models that are trained for individual applications, wireless foundation models (WFMs) learn generalized representations from large-scale heterogeneous wireless data and can be efficiently adapted to communication, sensing, localization, and network optimization tasks with minimal task-specific supervision. Despite rapid progress, current research remains fragmented across architectures, training paradigms, and application domains, with no unified survey dedicated to the design, learning, and deployment of WFMs. This survey presents a comprehensive and unified review of wireless foundation models. We first establish the fundamental concepts of WFMs and introduce a taxonomy that organizes the field according to model architectures, pre-training paradigms, and applications. We then review representative architectures, self-supervised pre-training strategies, parameter-efficient adaptation methods, datasets, benchmarks, and evaluation methodologies, highlighting their roles in enabling transferable wireless intelligence. Furthermore, we examine emerging applications spanning physical-layer signal processing, network intelligence, and cross-layer optimization, and discuss the key challenges of data availability, generalization, interpretability, efficient edge deployment, and standardization. Finally, we outline future research directions toward scalable, trustworthy, and general-purpose wireless intelligence for AI-native 6G networks. This survey provides a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners developing next-generation intelligent wireless systems.

cs.AI

A Communication-Centric 6G-LLM Architecture for Scalable Tactical Autonomous Defense Vehicle Networks

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging 6G networks introduces new opportunities for scalable coordination in tactical autonomous vehicle systems. This paper proposes a communication-centric hierarchical architecture for Tactical Autonomous Defense Vehicle Networks (TADVNs) that models the integration of edge-assisted Large Language Model (LLM) reasoning with 6G-enabled connectivity and semantic communication. The framework is designed to improve coordination efficiency, reduce communication overhead, and enhance latency resilience under increasing fleet-scale operation. Unlike conventional task-specific AI pipelines that rely on structured feature processing and rule-based coordination, the proposed approach incorporates semantic abstraction and context-aware decision support within a layered edge-cloud communication architecture. We evaluate communication and coordination performance via Monte Carlo simulations across fleet sizes of 5-30 vehicles under contested network conditions. Results indicate that at a 30-vehicle scale, the 6G-LLM configuration achieves 75.2% latency reduction (29.1 ms vs. 117.5 ms), a 68.7 percentage point increase in mission success rate (82.9% vs. 14.2%), and an 88.6% reduction in communication overhead compared to a 5G-based conventional AI baseline. These findings demonstrate measurable benefits in coordination and communication when semantic reasoning is combined with low-latency 6G connectivity.

eess.SP

Semantic Communication for the Internet of Underwater Things: Architectures, Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) supports marine sensing, environmental monitoring, subsea inspection, and autonomous underwater operations. However, IoUT communication is constrained by limited bandwidth, long propagation delay, time-varying underwater channels, intermittent connectivity, and strict energy budgets. Semantic Communication (SC) offers a promising alternative by transmitting task-relevant meaning rather than raw data, thereby improving communication efficiency in resource-constrained underwater networks. This paper presents a critical and feasibility-aware survey of SC for IoUT, focusing on opportunities, challenges, limitations, and future research directions. We first review the fundamentals of SC-enabled IoUT systems, including semantic representations, layered architectures, semantic channel modeling, and task-oriented evaluation metrics. We then examine learning-driven approaches based on machine learning (ML), knowledge graphs (KGs), vision-language models (VLMs), generative models, and federated learning (FL), with emphasis on their feasibility under underwater edge constraints. Representative applications, including environmental monitoring, marine ecology, subsea infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) coordination, are analyzed from an SC perspective. Finally, we identify key research directions involving standardized semantic models, reproducible testbeds, compute--communication trade-offs, trustworthy reconstruction, hybrid underwater links, energy-aware edge intelligence, semantic security, digital twins (DTs), and cross-domain interoperability. This survey provides a structured foundation for developing reliable, efficient, and meaning-driven IoUT communication systems.

eess.SP

The Post-Electromagnetic Era: A Vision for Wireless Communication Beyond 6G

Electromagnetic (EM) communication is nearing its physical and thermodynamic limits, where further performance gains through spectrum optimization alone have become increasingly unsustainable. Finite bandwidth, propagation loss at higher frequencies, and the inherent trade-offs between energy and information constrain the scalability of 6G and beyond systems. These limitations drive the search for alternative mechanisms for information transfer beyond conventional EM propagation. This work introduces a state-centric framework for post-6G communication, in which information is conveyed by manipulating physical, biological, and cognitive states rather than EM waves. It identifies ten foundational paradigms that define potential carriers and interaction mechanisms for the post-electromagnetic era and outlines a research roadmap toward self-organizing, cognitively integrated networks. Together, these developments envision a new class of communication systems that are energy-aware, adaptive, and capable of uniting matter, life, and intelligence within a single informational continuum. By establishing the conceptual basis for this transition, the work provides a foundation for future research aimed at realizing communication paradigms that transcend the limitations of spectrum-bound systems.

eess.SP

Carbon-Aware Orchestration of Integrated Satellite Aerial Terrestrial Networks via Digital Twin

Integrated Satellite Aerial Terrestrial Networks (ISATNs) are envisioned as key enablers of 6G, providing global connectivity for applications such as autonomous transportation, Industrial IoT, and disaster response. Their large-scale deployment, however, risks unsustainable energy use and carbon emissions. This work advances prior energy-aware studies by proposing a carbon-aware orchestration framework for ISATNs that leverages Digital Twin (DT) technology. The framework adopts grams of CO$_2$-equivalent per bit (gCO$_2$/bit) as a primary sustainability metric and implements a multi timescale Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) loop that combines day-ahead forecasting with real-time adaptive optimization. ISATN-specific control knobs, including carbon-aware handovers, UAV duty cycling, and renewable-aware edge placement, are exploited to reduce emissions. Simulation results with real carbon intensity data show up to 29\% lower gCO$_2$/bit than QoS-only orchestration, while improving renewable utilization and resilience under adverse events.

eess.SP

Integrating LLMs with ITS: Recent Advances, Potentials, Challenges, and Future Directions

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are crucial for the development and operation of smart cities, addressing key challenges in efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability. This paper comprehensively reviews the transformative potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in optimizing ITS. Initially, we provide an extensive overview of ITS, highlighting its components, operational principles, and overall effectiveness. We then delve into the theoretical background of various LLM techniques, such as GPT, T5, CTRL, and BERT, elucidating their relevance to ITS applications. Following this, we examine the wide-ranging applications of LLMs within ITS, including traffic flow prediction, vehicle detection and classification, autonomous driving, traffic sign recognition, and pedestrian detection. Our analysis reveals how these advanced models can significantly enhance traffic management and safety. Finally, we explore the challenges and limitations LLMs face in ITS, such as data availability, computational constraints, and ethical considerations. We also present several future research directions and potential innovations to address these challenges. This paper aims to guide researchers and practitioners through the complexities and opportunities of integrating LLMs in ITS, offering a roadmap to create more efficient, sustainable, and responsive next-generation transportation systems.

eess.SY

Eco-Friendly 0G Networks: Unlocking the Power of Backscatter Communications for a Greener Future

Backscatter Communication (BackCom) technology has emerged as a promising paradigm for the Green Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, offering advantages such as low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and ease of deployment. While traditional BackCom systems, such as RFID technology, have found widespread applications, the advent of ambient backscatter presents new opportunities for expanding applications and enhancing capabilities. Moreover, ongoing standardization efforts are actively focusing on BackCom technologies, positioning them as a potential solution to meet the near-zero power consumption and massive connectivity requirements of next-generation wireless systems. 0G networks have the potential to provide advanced solutions by leveraging BackCom technology to deliver ultra-low-power, ubiquitous connectivity for the expanding IoT ecosystem, supporting billions of devices with minimal energy consumption. This paper investigates the integration of BackCom and 0G networks to enhance the capabilities of traditional BackCom systems and enable Green IoT. We conduct an in-depth analysis of BackCom-enabled 0G networks, exploring their architecture and operational objectives, and also explore the Waste Factor (WF) metric for evaluating energy efficiency and minimizing energy waste within integrated systems. By examining both structural and operational aspects, we demonstrate how this synergy enhances the performance, scalability, and sustainability of next-generation wireless networks. Moreover, we highlight possible applications, open challenges, and future directions, offering valuable insights for guiding future research and practical implementations aimed at achieving large-scale, sustainable IoT deployments.

cs.NI

LoRa Communication for Agriculture 4.0: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

The emerging field of smart agriculture leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to revolutionize farming practices. This paper investigates the transformative potential of Long Range (LoRa) technology as a key enabler of long-range wireless communication for agricultural IoT systems. By reviewing existing literature, we identify a gap in research specifically focused on LoRa's prospects and challenges from a communication perspective in smart agriculture. We delve into the details of LoRa-based agricultural networks, covering network architecture design, Physical Layer (PHY) considerations tailored to the agricultural environment, and channel modeling techniques that account for soil characteristics. The paper further explores relaying and routing mechanisms that address the challenges of extending network coverage and optimizing data transmission in vast agricultural landscapes. Transitioning to practical aspects, we discuss sensor deployment strategies and energy management techniques, offering insights for real-world deployments. A comparative analysis of LoRa with other wireless communication technologies employed in agricultural IoT applications highlights its strengths and weaknesses in this context. Furthermore, the paper outlines several future research directions to leverage the potential of LoRa-based agriculture 4.0. These include advancements in channel modeling for diverse farming environments, novel relay routing algorithms, integrating emerging sensor technologies like hyper-spectral imaging and drone-based sensing, on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, and sustainable solutions. This survey can guide researchers, technologists, and practitioners to understand, implement, and propel smart agriculture initiatives using LoRa technology.

cs.NI

Leveraging Large Language Models for Integrated Satellite-Aerial-Terrestrial Networks: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Integrated satellite, aerial, and terrestrial networks (ISATNs) represent a sophisticated convergence of diverse communication technologies to ensure seamless connectivity across different altitudes and platforms. This paper explores the transformative potential of integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into ISATNs, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities to enhance these networks. We outline the current architecture of ISATNs and highlight the significant role LLMs can play in optimizing data flow, signal processing, and network management to advance 5G/6G communication technologies through advanced predictive algorithms and real-time decision-making. A comprehensive analysis of ISATN components is conducted, assessing how LLMs can effectively address traditional data transmission and processing bottlenecks. The paper delves into the network management challenges within ISATNs, emphasizing the necessity for sophisticated resource allocation strategies, traffic routing, and security management to ensure seamless connectivity and optimal performance under varying conditions. Furthermore, we examine the technical challenges and limitations associated with integrating LLMs into ISATNs, such as data integration for LLM processing, scalability issues, latency in decision-making processes, and the design of robust, fault-tolerant systems. The study also identifies key future research directions for fully harnessing LLM capabilities in ISATNs, which is crucial for enhancing network reliability, optimizing performance, and achieving a truly interconnected and intelligent global network system.

cs.LG

Large Language Models for UAVs: Current State and Pathways to the Future

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a transformative technology across diverse sectors, offering adaptable solutions to complex challenges in both military and civilian domains. Their expanding capabilities present a platform for further advancement by integrating cutting-edge computational tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. These advancements have significantly impacted various facets of human life, fostering an era of unparalleled efficiency and convenience. Large Language Models (LLMs), a key component of AI, exhibit remarkable learning and adaptation capabilities within deployed environments, demonstrating an evolving form of intelligence with the potential to approach human-level proficiency. This work explores the significant potential of integrating UAVs and LLMs to propel the development of autonomous systems. We comprehensively review LLM architectures, evaluating their suitability for UAV integration. Additionally, we summarize the state-of-the-art LLM-based UAV architectures and identify novel opportunities for LLM embedding within UAV frameworks. Notably, we focus on leveraging LLMs to refine data analysis and decision-making processes, specifically for enhanced spectral sensing and sharing in UAV applications. Furthermore, we investigate how LLM integration expands the scope of existing UAV applications, enabling autonomous data processing, improved decision-making, and faster response times in emergency scenarios like disaster response and network restoration. Finally, we highlight crucial areas for future research that are critical for facilitating the effective integration of LLMs and UAVs.

cs.AI

Beyond Line of Sight Defense Communication Systems: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication stands as an indispensable element within defense communication strategies, facilitating information exchange in scenarios where traditional Line of Sight (LOS) methodologies encounter obstruction. This article delves into the forefront of technologies driving BLOS communication, emphasizing advanced systems like phantom networks, nanonetworks, aerial relays, and satellite-based defense communication. Moreover, we present a practical use case of UAV path planning using optimization techniques amidst radar-threat war zones that add concrete relevance, underscoring the tangible applications of BLOS defense communication systems. Additionally, we present several future research directions for BLOS communication in defense systems, such as resilience enhancement, the integration of heterogeneous networks, management of contested spectrums, advancements in multimedia communication, adaptive methodologies, and the burgeoning domain of the Internet of Military Things (IoMT). This exploration of BLOS technologies and their applications lays the groundwork for synergistic collaboration between industry and academia, fostering innovation in defense communication paradigms.

eess.SP

Dynamic Resource Management in CDRT Systems through Adaptive NOMA

This paper introduces a novel adaptive transmission scheme to amplify the prowess of coordinated direct and relay transmission (CDRT) systems rooted in non-orthogonal multiple access principles. Leveraging the maximum ratio transmission scheme, we seamlessly meet the prerequisites of CDRT while harnessing the potential of dynamic power allocation and directional antennas to elevate the system's operational efficiency. Through meticulous derivations, we unveil closed-form expressions depicting the exact effective sum throughput. Our simulation results adeptly validate the theoretical analysis and vividly showcase the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

cs.IT

Data-driven Integrated Sensing and Communication: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), combined with data-driven approaches, has emerged as a highly significant field, garnering considerable attention from academia and industry. Its potential to enable wide-scale applications in the future sixth-generation (6G) networks has led to extensive recent research efforts. Machine learning (ML) techniques, including $K$-nearest neighbors (KNN), support vector machines (SVM), deep learning (DL) architectures, and reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms, have been deployed to address various design aspects of ISAC and its diverse applications. Therefore, this paper aims to explore integrating various ML techniques into ISAC systems, covering various applications. These applications span intelligent vehicular networks, encompassing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous cars, as well as radar applications, localization and tracking, millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) communication, and beamforming. The contributions of this paper lie in its comprehensive survey of ML-based works in the ISAC domain and its identification of challenges and future research directions. By synthesizing the existing knowledge and proposing new research avenues, this survey serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in advancing the capabilities of ISAC systems in the context of 6G networks.

eess.SP

Near-Field Integrated Sensing and Communication: Performance Analysis and Beamforming Design

This paper explores the potential of near-field beamforming (NFBF) in integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems with extremely large-scale arrays (XL-arrays). The large-scale antenna arrays increase the possibility of having communication users and targets of interest in the near field of the base station (BS). The paper first establishes the models of electromagnetic (EM) near-field spherical waves and far-field plane waves. With the models, we analyze the near-field beam focusing ability and the far-field beam steering ability by finding the gain-loss mathematical expression caused by the far-field steering vector mismatch in the near-field case. We formulate the NFBF design problem as minimizing the weighted summation of radar and the communication beamforming errors under a total power constraint and solve this quadratically constrained quadratic programming (QCQP) problem using the least squares (LS) method. Moreover, the Cramér-Rao bound (CRB) for target parameter estimation is derived to verify the performance of NFBF. Furthermore, we also perform power minimization using convex optimization while ensuring the required communication and sensing quality-of-service (QoS). The simulation results show the influence of model mismatch on near-field ISAC and the performance gain of transmit beamforming from the additional distance dimension of near-field.

eess.SP

Near-Field Integrated Sensing and Communications: Unlocking Potentials and Shaping the Future

The sixth generation (6G) communication networks are featured by integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), revolutionizing base stations (BSs) and terminals. Additionally, in the unfolding 6G landscape, a pivotal physical layer technology, the Extremely Large-Scale Antenna Array (ELAA), assumes center stage. With its expansive coverage of the near-field region, ELAA's electromagnetic (EM) waves manifest captivating spherical wave properties. Embracing these distinctive features, communication and sensing capabilities scale unprecedented heights. Therefore, we systematically explore the prodigious potential of near-field ISAC technology. In particular, the fundamental principles of near-field are presented to unearth its benefits in both communication and sensing. Then, we delve into the technologies underpinning near-field communication and sensing, unraveling possibilities discussed in recent works. We then investigated the advantages of near-field ISAC through rigorous case simulations, showcasing the benefits of near-field ISAC and reinforcing its stature as a transformative paradigm. As we conclude, we confront the open frontiers and chart the future directions for near-field ISAC.

eess.SP

Semantic Importance-Aware Communications Using Pre-trained Language Models

This letter proposes a semantic importance-aware communication (SIAC) scheme using pre-trained language models (e.g., ChatGPT, BERT, etc.). Specifically, we propose a cross-layer design with a pre-trained language model embedded in/connected by the cross-layer manager. The pre-trained language model is utilized to quantify the semantic importance of data frames. Based on the quantified semantic importance, we investigate semantic importance-aware power allocation. Unlike existing deep joint source-channel coding (Deep-JSCC)-based semantic communication schemes, SIAC can be directly embedded into current communication systems by only introducing a cross-layer manager. Our experimental results show that the proposed SIAC scheme can achieve lower semantic loss than existing equal-priority communications.

eess.SP

A Survey on Scalable LoRaWAN for Massive IoT: Recent Advances, Potentials, and Challenges

Long-range (LoRa) technology is most widely used for enabling low-power wide area networks (WANs) on unlicensed frequency bands. Despite its modest data rates, it provides extensive coverage for low-power devices, making it an ideal communication system for many internet of things (IoT) applications. In general, LoRa is considered as the physical layer, whereas LoRaWAN is the medium access control (MAC) layer of the LoRa stack that adopts a star topology to enable communication between multiple end devices (EDs) and the network gateway. The chirp spread spectrum modulation deals with LoRa signal interference and ensures long-range communication. At the same time, the adaptive data rate mechanism allows EDs to dynamically alter some LoRa features, such as the spreading factor (SF), code rate, and carrier frequency to address the time variance of communication conditions in dense networks. Despite the high LoRa connectivity demand, LoRa signals interference and concurrent transmission collisions are major limitations. Therefore, to enhance LoRaWAN capacity, the LoRa Alliance released many LoRaWAN versions, and the research community has provided numerous solutions to develop scalable LoRaWAN technology. Hence, we thoroughly examine LoRaWAN scalability challenges and state-of-the-art solutions in both the physical and MAC layers. These solutions primarily rely on SF, logical, and frequency channel assignment, whereas others propose new network topologies or implement signal processing schemes to cancel the interference and allow LoRaWAN to connect more EDs efficiently. A summary of the existing solutions in the literature is provided at the end of the paper, describing the advantages and disadvantages of each solution and suggesting possible enhancements as future research directions.

cs.NI

Adaptive Control of IoT/M2M Devices in Smart Buildings using Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

With the rapid development of wireless communication technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) are becoming essential for many applications. One of the most emblematic IoT/M2M applications is smart buildings. The current Building Automation Systems (BAS) are limited by many factors, including the lack of integration of IoT and M2M technologies, unfriendly user interfacing, and the lack of a convergent solution. Therefore, this paper proposes a better approach of using heterogeneous wireless networks consisting of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Mobile Cellular Networks (MCNs) for IoT/M2M smart building systems. One of the most significant outcomes of this research is to provide accurate readings to the server, and very low latency, through which users can easily control and monitor remotely the proposed system that consists of several innovative services, namely smart parking, garden irrigation automation, intrusion alarm, smart door, fire and gas detection, smart lighting, smart medication reminder, and indoor air quality monitoring. All these services are designed and implemented to control and monitor from afar the building via our free mobile application named Raniso which is a local server that allows remote control of the building. This IoT/M2M smart building system is customizable to meet the needs of users, improving safety and quality of life while reducing energy consumption. Additionally, it helps prevent the loss of resources and human lives by detecting and managing risks.

cs.NI