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Nir Shlezinger

Publications and source records attributed to Nir Shlezinger.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Model-Based Deep Learning

Signal processing traditionally relies on classical statistical modeling techniques. Such model-based methods utilize mathematical formulations that represent the underlying physics, prior information and additional domain knowledge. Simple classical models are useful but sensitive to inaccuracies and may lead to poor performance when real systems display complex or dynamic behavior. More recently, deep learning approaches that use deep neural networks are becoming increasingly popular. Deep learning systems do not rely on mathematical modeling, and learn their mapping from data, which allows them to operate in complex environments. However, they lack the interpretability and reliability of model-based methods, typically require large training sets to obtain good performance, and tend to be computationally complex. Model-based signal processing methods and data-centric deep learning each have their pros and cons. These paradigms can be characterized as edges of a continuous spectrum varying in specificity and parameterization. The methodologies that lie in the middle ground of this spectrum, thus integrating model-based signal processing with deep learning, are referred to as model-based deep learning, and are the focus here. This monograph provides a tutorial style presentation of model-based deep learning methodologies. These are families of algorithms that combine principled mathematical models with data-driven systems to benefit from the advantages of both approaches. Such model-based deep learning methods exploit both partial domain knowledge, via mathematical structures designed for specific problems, as well as learning from limited data. We accompany our presentation with running examples, in super-resolution, dynamic systems, and array processing. We show how they are expressed using the provided characterization and specialized in each of the detailed methodologies.

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Adaptive and Flexible Model-Based AI for Deep Receivers in Dynamic Channels

Artificial intelligence (AI) is envisioned to play a key role in future wireless technologies, with deep neural networks (DNNs) enabling digital receivers to learn to operate in challenging communication scenarios. However, wireless receiver design poses unique challenges that fundamentally differ from those encountered in traditional deep learning domains. The main challenges arise from the limited power and computational resources of wireless devices, as well as from the dynamic nature of wireless communications, which causes continual changes to the data distribution. These challenges impair conventional AI based on highly-parameterized DNNs, motivating the development of adaptive, flexible, and light-weight AI for wireless communications, which is the focus of this article. Here, we propose that AI-based design of wireless receivers requires rethinking of the three main pillars of AI: architecture, data, and training algorithms. In terms of architecture, we review how to design compact DNNs via model-based deep learning. Then, we discuss how to acquire training data for deep receivers without compromising spectral efficiency. Finally, we review efficient, reliable, and robust training algorithms via meta-learning and generalized Bayesian learning. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the complementary effectiveness of each of the surveyed methods. We conclude by presenting opportunities for future research on the development of practical deep receivers

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Discriminative and Generative Learning for Linear Estimation of Random Signals [Lecture Notes]

Inference tasks in signal processing are often characterized by the availability of reliable statistical modeling with some missing instance-specific parameters. One conventional approach uses data to estimate these missing parameters and then infers based on the estimated model. Alternatively, data can also be leveraged to directly learn the inference mapping end-to-end. These approaches for combining partially-known statistical models and data in inference are related to the notions of generative and discriminative models used in the machine learning literature, typically considered in the context of classifiers. The goal of this lecture note is to introduce the concepts of generative and discriminative learning for inference with a partially-known statistical model. While machine learning systems often lack the interpretability of traditional signal processing methods, we focus on a simple setting where one can interpret and compare the approaches in a tractable manner that is accessible and relevant to signal processing readers. In particular, we exemplify the approaches for the task of Bayesian signal estimation in a jointly Gaussian setting with the mean-squared error (MSE) objective, i.e., a linear estimation setting.

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Latent-KalmanNet: Learned Kalman Filtering for Tracking from High-Dimensional Signals

The Kalman filter (KF) is a widely-used algorithm for tracking dynamic systems that are captured by state space (SS) models. The need to fully describe a SS model limits its applicability under complex settings, e.g., when tracking based on visual data, and the processing of high-dimensional signals often induces notable latency. These challenges can be treated by mapping the measurements into latent features obeying some postulated closed-form SS model, and applying the KF in the latent space. However, the validity of this approximated SS model may constitute a limiting factor. In this work, we study tracking from high-dimensional measurements under complex settings using a hybrid model-based/data-driven approach. By gradually tackling the challenges in handling the observations model and the task, we develop Latent-KalmanNet, which implements tracking from high-dimensional measurements by leveraging data to jointly learn the KF along with the latent space mapping. Latent-KalmanNet combines a learned encoder with data-driven tracking in the latent space using the recently proposed-KalmanNet, while identifying the ability of each of these trainable modules to assist its counterpart via providing a suitable prior (by KalmanNet) and by learning a latent representation that facilitates data-aided tracking (by the encoder). Our empirical results demonstrate that the proposed Latent-KalmanNet achieves improved accuracy and run-time performance over both model-based and data-driven techniques by learning a surrogate latent representation that most facilitates tracking, while operating with limited complexity and latency.

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AI-Empowered Hybrid MIMO Beamforming

Hybrid multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is an attractive technology for realizing extreme massive MIMO systems envisioned for future wireless communications in a scalable and power-efficient manner. However, the fact that hybrid MIMO systems implement part of their beamforming in analog and part in digital makes the optimization of their beampattern notably more challenging compared with conventional fully digital MIMO. Consequently, recent years have witnessed a growing interest in using data-aided artificial intelligence (AI) tools for hybrid beamforming design. This article reviews candidate strategies to leverage data to improve real-time hybrid beamforming design. We discuss the architectural constraints and characterize the core challenges associated with hybrid beamforming optimization. We then present how these challenges are treated via conventional optimization, and identify different AI-aided design approaches. These can be roughly divided into purely data-driven deep learning models and different forms of deep unfolding techniques for combining AI with classical optimization.We provide a systematic comparative study between existing approaches including both numerical evaluations and qualitative measures. We conclude by presenting future research opportunities associated with the incorporation of AI in hybrid MIMO systems.

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Deep Unfolding Hybrid Beamforming Designs for THz Massive MIMO Systems

Hybrid beamforming (HBF) is a key enabler for wideband terahertz (THz) massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) communications systems. A core challenge with designing HBF systems stems from the fact their application often involves a non-convex, highly complex optimization of large dimensions. In this paper, we propose HBF schemes that leverage data to enable efficient designs for both the fully-connected HBF (FC-HBF) and dynamic sub-connected HBF (SC-HBF) architectures. We develop a deep unfolding framework based on factorizing the optimal fully digital beamformer into analog and digital terms and formulating two corresponding equivalent least squares (LS) problems. Then, the digital beamformer is obtained via a closed-form LS solution, while the analog beamformer is obtained via ManNet, a lightweight sparsely-connected deep neural network based on unfolding projected gradient descent. Incorporating ManNet into the developed deep unfolding framework leads to the ManNet-based FC-HBF scheme. We show that the proposed ManNet can also be applied to SC-HBF designs after determining the connections between the radio frequency chain and antennas. We further develop a simplified version of ManNet, referred to as subManNet, that directly produces the sparse analog precoder for SC-HBF architectures. Both networks are trained with an unsupervised training procedure. Numerical results verify that the proposed ManNet/subManNet-based HBF approaches outperform the conventional model-based and deep unfolded counterparts with very low complexity and a fast run time. For example, in a simulation with 128 transmit antennas, it attains a slightly higher spectral efficiency than the Riemannian manifold scheme, but over 1000 times faster and with a complexity reduction of more than by a factor of six (6).

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Online Meta-Learning For Hybrid Model-Based Deep Receivers

Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the application of deep neural networks (DNNs) for receiver design, which can potentially be applied in complex environments without relying on knowledge of the channel model. However, the dynamic nature of communication channels often leads to rapid distribution shifts, which may require periodically retraining. This paper formulates a data-efficient two-stage training method that facilitates rapid online adaptation. Our training mechanism uses a predictive meta-learning scheme to train rapidly from data corresponding to both current and past channel realizations. Our method is applicable to any deep neural network (DNN)-based receiver, and does not require transmission of new pilot data for training. To illustrate the proposed approach, we study DNN-aided receivers that utilize an interpretable model-based architecture, and introduce a modular training strategy based on predictive meta-learning. We demonstrate our techniques in simulations on a synthetic linear channel, a synthetic non-linear channel, and a COST 2100 channel. Our results demonstrate that the proposed online training scheme allows receivers to outperform previous techniques based on self-supervision and joint-learning by a margin of up to 2.5 dB in coded bit error rate in rapidly-varying scenarios.

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CRC-Aided Learned Ensembles of Belief-Propagation Polar Decoders

Polar codes have promising error-correction capabilities. Yet, decoding polar codes is often challenging, particularly with large blocks, with recently proposed decoders based on list-decoding or neural-decoding. The former applies multiple decoders or the same decoder multiple times with some redundancy, while the latter family utilizes emerging deep learning schemes to learn to decode from data. In this work we introduce a novel polar decoder that combines the list-decoding with neural-decoding, by forming an ensemble of multiple weighted belief-propagation (WBP) decoders, each trained to decode different data. We employ the cyclic-redundancy check (CRC) code as a proxy for combining the ensemble decoders and selecting the most-likely decoded word after inference, while facilitating real-time decoding. We evaluate our scheme over a wide range of polar codes lengths, empirically showing that gains of around 0.25dB in frame-error rate could be achieved. Moreover, we provide complexity and latency analysis, showing that the number of operations required approaches that of a single BP decoder at high signal-to-noise ratios.

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On the Tacit Linearity Assumption in Common Cascaded Models of RIS-Parametrized Wireless Channels

We analytically derive from first physical principles the functional dependence of wireless channels on the RIS configuration for generic (i.e., potentially complex-scattering) RIS-parametrized radio environments. The wireless channel is a linear input-output relation that depends non-linearly on the RIS configuration because of two independent mechanisms: i) proximity-induced mutual coupling between close-by RIS elements; ii) reverberation-induced long-range coupling between all RIS elements. Mathematically, this "structural" non-linearity originates from the inversion of an "interaction" matrix that can be cast as the sum of an infinite Born series [for i)] or Born-like series [for ii)] whose $K$th term physically represents paths involving $K$ bounces between the RIS elements [for i)] or wireless entities [for ii)]. We identify the key physical parameters that determine whether these series can be truncated after the first and second term, respectively, as tacitly done in common cascaded models of RIS-parametrized wireless channels. Numerical results obtained with the physics-compliant PhysFad model and experimental results obtained with a RIS prototype in an anechoic (echo-free) chamber and rich-scattering reverberation chambers corroborate our analysis. Our findings raise doubts about the reliability of existing performance analysis and channel-estimation protocols for cases in which cascaded models poorly describe the physical reality.

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DA-MUSIC: Data-Driven DoA Estimation via Deep Augmented MUSIC Algorithm

Direction of arrival (DoA) estimation of multiple signals is pivotal in sensor array signal processing. A popular multi-signal DoA estimation method is the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm, which enables high-performance super-resolution DoA recovery while being highly applicable in practice. MUSIC is a model-based algorithm, relying on an accurate mathematical description of the relationship between the signals and the measurements and assumptions on the signals themselves (non-coherent, narrowband sources). As such, it is sensitive to model imperfections. In this work we propose to overcome these limitations of MUSIC by augmenting the algorithm with specifically designed neural architectures. Our proposed deep augmented MUSIC (DA-MUSIC) algorithm is thus a hybrid model-based/data-driven DoA estimator, which leverages data to improve performance and robustness while preserving the interpretable flow of the classic method. DA-MUSIC is shown to learn to overcome limitations of the purely model-based method, such as its inability to successfully localize coherent sources as well as estimate the number of coherent signal sources present. We further demonstrate the superior resolution of the DA-MUSIC algorithm in synthetic narrowband and broadband scenarios as well as with real-world data of DoA estimation from seismic signals.

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Learn to Rapidly and Robustly Optimize Hybrid Precoding

Hybrid precoding plays a key role in realizing massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmitters with controllable cost. MIMO precoders are required to frequently adapt based on the variations in the channel conditions. In hybrid MIMO, here precoding is comprised of digital and analog beamforming, such an adaptation involves lengthy optimization and depends on accurate channel state information (CSI). This affects the spectral efficiency when the channel varies rapidly and when operating with noisy CSI. In this work we employ deep learning techniques to learn how to rapidly and robustly optimize hybrid precoders, while being fully interpretable. We leverage data to learn iteration-dependent hyperparameter settings of projected gradient sum-rate optimization with a predefined number of iterations. The algorithm maps channel realizations into hybrid precoding settings while preserving the interpretable flow of the optimizer and improving its convergence speed. To cope with noisy CSI, we learn to optimize the minimal achievable sum-rate among all tolerable errors, proposing a robust hybrid precoding based on the projected conceptual mirror prox minimax optimizer. Numerical results demonstrate that our approach allows using over ten times less iterations compared to that required by conventional optimization with shared hyperparameters, while achieving similar and even improved sum-rate performance.

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6G Wireless Communications: From Far-field Beam Steering to Near-field Beam Focusing

6G networks will be required to support higher data rates, improved energy efficiency, lower latency, and more diverse users compared with 5G systems. To meet these requirements, electrically extremely large-scale antenna arrays are envisioned to be key physical-layer technologies. As a consequence, it is expected that some portion of future 6G wireless communications may take place in the radiating near-field (Fresnel) region, in addition to the far-field operation as in current wireless technologies. In this article, we discuss the opportunities and challenges that arise in radiating near-field communications. We begin by discussing the key physical characteristics of near-field communications, where the standard plane-wave propagation assumption no longer holds, and clarifying its implication on the modelling of wireless channels. Then, we elaborate on the ability to leverage spherical wavefronts via beam focusing, highlighting its advantages for 6G systems. We point out several appealing application scenarios which, with proper design, can benefit from near-field operation, including interference mitigation in multi-user communications, accurate localization and focused sensing, as well as wireless power transfer with minimal energy pollution. We conclude by discussing some of the design challenges and research directions that are yet to be explored to fully harness the potential of near-field operation.

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Robust Task-Specific Beamforming with Low-Resolution ADCs for Power-Efficient Hybrid MIMO Receivers

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems exploit spatial diversity to facilitate multi-user communications with high spectral efficiency by beamforming. As MIMO systems utilize multiple antennas and radio frequency (RF) chains, they are typically costly to implement and consume high power. A common method to reduce the cost of MIMO receivers is utilizing less RF chains than antennas by employing hybrid analog/digital beamforming (HBF). However, the added analog circuitry involves active components whose consumed power may surpass that saved in RF chain reduction. An additional method to realize power-efficient MIMO systems is to use low-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), which typically compromises signal recovery accuracy. In this work, we propose a power-efficient hybrid MIMO receiver with low-quantization rate ADCs, by jointly optimizing the analog and digital processing in a hardware-oriented manner using task-specific quantization techniques. To mitigate power consumption on the analog front-end, we utilize efficient analog hardware architecture comprised of sparse low-resolution vector modulators, while accounting for their properties in design to maintain recovery accuracy and mitigate interferers in congested environments. To account for common mismatches induced by non-ideal hardware and inaccurate channel state information, we propose a robust mismatch aware design. Supported by numerical simulations and power analysis, our power-efficient MIMO receiver achieves comparable signal recovery performance to power-hungry fully-digital MIMO receivers using high-resolution ADCs. Furthermore, our receiver outperforms the task-agnostic HBF receivers with low-rate ADCs in recovery accuracy at lower power and successfully copes with hardware mismatches.

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Integrated Sensing and Communications with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) are envisioned to be an integral part of future wireless networks, especially when operating at the millimeter-wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) frequency bands. However, establishing wireless connections at these high frequencies is quite challenging, mainly due to the penetrating pathloss that prevents reliable communication and sensing. Another emerging technology for next-generation wireless systems is reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), which are capable of modifying harsh propagation environments. RISs are the focus of growing research and industrial attention, bringing forth the vision of smart and programmable signal propagation environments. In this article, we provide a tutorial-style overview of the applications and benefits of RISs for sensing functionalities in general, and for ISAC systems in particular. We highlight the potential advantages when fusing these two emerging technologies, and identify for the first time that: i) joint sensing and communications designs are most beneficial when the channels referring to these operations are coupled, and that ii) RISs offer means for controlling this beneficial coupling. The usefulness of RIS-aided ISAC goes beyond the individual obvious gains of each of these technologies in both performance and power efficiency. We also discuss the main signal processing challenges and future research directions which arise from the fusion of these two emerging technologies.

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Near-field Localization with Dynamic Metasurface Antennas

Sixth generation (6G) cellular communications are expected to support enhanced wireless localization capabilities. The widespread deployment of large arrays and high-frequency bandwidths give rise to new considerations for localization applications. First, emerging antenna architectures, such as dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs), are expected to be frequently utilized thanks to the achievable high angular resolution and low hardware complexity. Further, wireless localization is likely to take place in the radiating near-field (Fresnel) region, which provides new degrees of freedom, because of the adoption of arrays with large apertures. While current studies mostly focus on the use of costly fully-digital antenna arrays, in this paper we investigate how DMAs can be applied for near-field localization of a single user. We use a direct positioning estimation method based on curvature-of-arrival of the impinging wavefront to obtain the user location, and characterize the effects of DMA tuning on the estimation accuracy. Next, we propose an algorithm for configuring the DMA to optimize near-field localization, by first tuning the adjustable DMA coefficients to minimize the estimation error using postulated knowledge of the actual user position. Finally, we propose a sub-optimal iterative algorithm that does not rely on such knowledge. Simulation results show that the DMA-based near-field localization accuracy could approach that of fully-digital arrays at lower cost.

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LQGNet: Hybrid Model-Based and Data-Driven Linear Quadratic Stochastic Control

Stochastic control deals with finding an optimal control signal for a dynamical system in a setting with uncertainty, playing a key role in numerous applications. The linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) is a widely-used setting, where the system dynamics is represented as a linear Gaussian statespace (SS) model, and the objective function is quadratic. For this setting, the optimal controller is obtained in closed form by the separation principle. However, in practice, the underlying system dynamics often cannot be faithfully captured by a fully known linear Gaussian SS model, limiting its performance. Here, we present LQGNet, a stochastic controller that leverages data to operate under partially known dynamics. LQGNet augments the state tracking module of separation-based control with a dedicated trainable algorithm. The resulting system preserves the operation of classic LQG control while learning to cope with partially known SS models without having to fully identify the dynamics. We empirically show that LQGNet outperforms classic stochastic control by overcoming mismatched SS models.

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Joint Microstrip Selection and Beamforming Design for MmWave Systems with Dynamic Metasurface Antennas

Dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs) provide a new paradigm to realize large-scale antenna arrays for future wireless systems. In this paper, we study the downlink millimeter wave (mmWave) DMA systems with limited number of radio frequency (RF) chains. By using a specific DMA structure, an equivalent mmWave channel model is first explicitly characterized. Based on that, we propose an effective joint microstrip selection and beamforming scheme to accommodate for the limited number of RF chains. A low-complexity digital beamforming solution with channel gain-based microstrip selection is developed, while the analog beamformer is obtained via a coordinate ascent method. The proposed scheme is numerically shown to approach the performance of DMAs without RF chain reduction, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.

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Split-KalmanNet: A Robust Model-Based Deep Learning Approach for SLAM

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a method that constructs a map of an unknown environment and localizes the position of a moving agent on the map simultaneously. Extended Kalman filter (EKF) has been widely adopted as a low complexity solution for online SLAM, which relies on a motion and measurement model of the moving agent. In practice, however, acquiring precise information about these models is very challenging, and the model mismatch effect causes severe performance loss in SLAM. In this paper, inspired by the recently proposed KalmanNet, we present a robust EKF algorithm using the power of deep learning for online SLAM, referred to as Split-KalmanNet. The key idea of Split-KalmanNet is to compute the Kalman gain using the Jacobian matrix of a measurement function and two recurrent neural networks (RNNs). The two RNNs independently learn the covariance matrices for a prior state estimate and the innovation from data. The proposed split structure in the computation of the Kalman gain allows to compensate for state and measurement model mismatch effects independently. Numerical simulation results verify that Split-KalmanNet outperforms the traditional EKF and the state-of-the-art KalmanNet algorithm in various model mismatch scenarios.

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