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Rujing Xiong

Publications and source records attributed to Rujing Xiong.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Microwave Linear Analog Computers Aided Multiuser Communication: General Impedance Matching and Precoding Optimization

Microwave linear analog computers (MiLACs) have recently emerged as a hardware-efficient solution for implementing multi-antenna communication systems. Unlike existing MiLAC designs based on the ideal assumption of perfect impedance matching (PIM) with reflection-free transmission, this paper investigates MiLAC-aided precoding optimization under a general impedance matching (GIM) model, which enables more flexible precoder design at the cost of a potential reduction in radiated power. Specifically, we consider a downlink multiuser multiple-input single-output (MISO) communication system and aim to maximize the system sum rate by optimizing the MiLAC-enabled transmit precoding subject to physical circuit constraints. The formulated problem is challenging to solve due to the intricate coupling between the precoding and impedance parameters. To address this challenge, we first develop a singular value decomposition (SVD)-based parametric search framework for small or medium size systems. This framework exploits the feasible precoder structure and explicitly captures the tradeoff between power radiation efficiency and precoder design flexibility. We then propose a unified algorithm for solving the optimization problem based on the projected weighted minimum mean-square error (WMMSE) principle for arbitrary size systems with GIM- or PIM-based MiLAC precoding. Simulation results demonstrate that the GIM-based MiLAC design consistently outperforms its PIM counterpart as a special realization, especially in interference-limited scenarios, by allowing a moderate reduction in radiated power in exchange for additional precoder design flexibility and more effective interference mitigation. It is also shown that GIM-based MiLAC design achieves performance close to that of the baseline fully digital precoding system.

eess.SP

Source Localization and Power Estimation through RISs: Performance Analysis and Prototype Validations

This paper investigates the capabilities and effectiveness of backward localization centered on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). In the backward sensing paradigm, the region of interest (RoI) is illuminated using a set of diverse radiation patterns. These patterns encode spatial information into a sequence of measurements, which are subsequently processed to reconstruct the RoI. We show that a single RIS can estimate the direction of arrival of incident waves by leveraging configurational diversity, and that the spatial diversity provided by multiple RISs further improves the accuracy of source localization and power estimation. The underlying structure of the sensing operator in the multi-snapshot measurement process is clarified. For single-RIS localization, the sensing operator is decomposed into a product of structured matrices, each corresponding to a specific physical process: wave propagation to and from the RIS, the relative phase offsets of elements with respect to the reference point, and the applied phase configuration of each element. A unified framework for identifying key performance indicators is established by analyzing the conditioning of the sensing operators. In the multi-RIS setting, we derive--via rank analysis--the governing law among the RoI size, the number of elements, and the number of measurements. Upper bounds on the relative error of the least squares reconstruction algorithm are derived. These bounds clarify how key performance indicators affect estimation error and provide valuable guidance for system-level optimization. Numerical experiments confirm that the trend of the relative error is consistent with the theoretical bounds.

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Metasurface-Enabled Superheterodyne Transmitter With Decoupled Harmonic-Free Signal Generation and Precoding

The evolution of programmable metasurfaces (PM) from passive beamforming to active information transmission marks a paradigm shift for next-generation wireless systems. However, this transition is hindered by fundamental limitations in conventional metasurface transmitter architectures, including restricted modulation orders, symbol-level spatial inconsistency, and significant harmonic interference. These issues stem from the intrinsic coupling between baseband signal processing and radio-frequency beamforming in monolithic designs reliant on simplistic switching mechanisms. This paper proposes a novel metasurface-enabled superheterodyne architecture (MSA) that fundamentally decouples these functionalities. The MSA introduces a dual-stage up-conversion process, comprising a digital up-conversion module for in-phase/quadrature modulation and baseband-to-intermediate frequency conversion, a precoder module for precoding, and a custom-designed magnitude-phase-decoupled metasurface that acts as a reconfigurable reflective mixer array. This decoupling of harmonic-free waveform generation from spatial precoding overcomes the critical drawbacks of existing approaches. Experimental results from a 5.8 GHz proof-of-concept prototype system validate the MSA's superior performance. The system generates spatially isotropic constellations for arbitrary-order QAM modulations, ensures consistent time-frequency signatures for applications like Doppler-spoofing, and achieves data rates up to 20 Mbps within a linear operating region that minimizes nonlinear distortion. The capability of employing spatial diversity and multi-stream interference cancellation has been demonstrated for the first time in a PM-based transmitter.

cs.IT

Metasurface-Enabled Superheterodyne Transmitter for Arbitrary-Order Modulation with Spatially Isotropic Symbol Distribution

Electromagnetically programmable information metasurfaces, as dynamically controllable 2D metamaterials, hold significant promise as low-profile hardware enabling passive wave control and signal generation for backscatter systems. However, current metasurface-based transmitters architecture fundamentally suffer from hardware non-modularization, forcing all transmitter functions onto nonlinear switch-based unit cells, which introduces symbol mapping inconsistency via phase coupling. Moreover, both temporal coding (limited by unit cell diodes) and space-time coding (impaired by symbol anisotropy) exhibit irreducible harmonic interference and entangled control of amplitude, phase, and beam direction. This paper proposes a metasurface-enabled superheterodyne architecture (MSA), comprising a digital up-conversion (DUC) module performing baseband-to-intermediate frequency (IF) conversion, filtering, and digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), and a reconfigurable metasurface featuring programmable unit cells that independently control both the magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient. Systematically, the architecture leverages a dual-stage up-conversion process, typical of superheterodyne systems, but uniquely employs the metasurface for the final RF conversion stage. Building upon this framework, a proof-of-concept prototype featuring a 5.8 GHz magnitude-phase decoupled (MPD) metasurface (<15 degree phase deviation per state) and a DAC-based DUC module is presented. Extensive validation confirms the metasurface's capability for distortion-free mixing with arbitrary IF signals while maintaining consistent radiation patterns. The prototype successfully implements diverse QAM modulation schemes (4QAM to 256QAM) in mono-static and bi-static configurations, demonstrating symbol isotropy for spatially separated receivers and achieving a data rate of approximately 20 Mbps (at 5 MHz IF)...

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Flexible Multi-Beam Synthesis and Directional Suppression Through Transmissive RIS

Despite extensive research on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) in recent years, existing beamforming methods still face significant challenges in achieving flexible and robust beam synthesis, which is an essential capability for a wide range of communication scenarios. This paper introduces a Max-min criterion with nonlinear constraints, leveraging optimization techniques to simultaneously enable flexible multi-beam synthesis and directional suppression using transmissive RIS. Firstly, a realistic model grounded in geometrical optics is introduced to characterize the input/output behaviors of transmissive RISs, effectively bridging the gap between explicit beamforming requirements and practical implementations. Subsequently, a highly efficient algorithm for constrained Max-min optimizations involving quadratic forms is developed. By introducing an auxiliary variable and applying the compensated convexity transform, we successfully reformulate the original non-convex problem and obtain the optimal solution iteratively. This approach is readily applicable to a wide range of constrained Max-min optimization problems. Finally, numerical simulations and prototype experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively enhance or selectively suppress signal beams in designated spatial directions, outperforming existing methods in terms of beam control accuracy and robustness. This framework provides valuable insights and references for practical communications applications such as physical layer security and interference mitigation.

cs.IT

WiCAL: Accurate Wi-Fi-Based 3D Localization Enabled by Collaborative Antenna Arrays

Accurate 3D localization is essential for realizing advanced sensing functionalities in next-generation Wi-Fi communication systems. This study investigates the potential of multistatic localization in Wi-Fi networks through the deployment of multiple cooperative antenna arrays. The collaborative gain offered by these arrays is twofold: (i) intra-array coherent gain at the wavelength scale among antenna elements, and (ii) inter-array cooperative gain across arrays. To evaluate the feasibility and performance of this approach, we develop WiCAL (Wi-Fi Collaborative Antenna Localization), a system built upon commercial Wi-Fi infrastructure equipped with uniform rectangular arrays. These arrays are driven by multiplexing embedded radio frequency chains available in standard access points or user devices, thereby eliminating the need for sophisticated, costly, and power-hungry multi-transceiver modules typically required in multiple-input and multiple-output systems. To address phase offsets introduced by RF chain multiplexing, we propose a three-stage, fine-grained phase alignment scheme to synchronize signals across antenna elements within each array. A bidirectional spatial smoothing MUSIC algorithm is employed to estimate angles of arrival (AoAs) and mitigate performance degradation caused by correlated interference. To further exploit inter-array cooperative gain, we elaborate on the synchronization mechanism among distributed URAs, which enables direct position determination by bypassing intermediate angle estimation. Once synchronized, the distributed URAs effectively form a virtual large-scale array, significantly enhancing spatial resolution and localization accuracy.

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Arbitrary Waveform Generated Metasurface: A New Paradigm for Direct Modulation and Beamforming Decoupling

Information Metasurface, also known as reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has gained significant attention owing to its impressive abilities in electromagnetic (EM) wave manipulation with simple structures. Numerous studies focus on achieving efficient and versatile information transmission using RIS across various fields like wireless communication, radar detection, integrated sensing, and communications, among others. Previous studies demonstrate diverse approaches to achieve reflection modulation by utilizing the superposition of the quantified reflection coefficient (RC) of each unit but suffer from the computing complexity of codebook sequence, the safety of communication, and the flexibility of modulation. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel concept of information metasurface, namely AWG-RIS, which is capable of independently producing arbitrary baseband waveforms and beam patterns through a design that decouples magnitude and phase, without changing the beam pattern. The AWG-RIS functions as a reflection mixer, directly embedding the intended signal into the incoming EM waves. Subsequently, we developed an analysis framework and introduced the waveform factor and beamforming factor into the new model, offering theoretical support for the transition from the control signal to the outgoing electromagnetic wave. Additionally, we unveil the world's first prototype showcasing passive arbitrary waveform generation while maintaining the beam pattern unaltered. Leveraging the decoupling of direct modulation and beamforming, we explore additional applications in several domains relative to traditional RISs. Finally, we present experiments that confirm the generation of arbitrary waveforms and particular spectrograms.

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Optimal Configuration of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces With Non-uniform Phase Quantization

The existing methods for reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) beamforming in wireless communications are typically limited to uniform phase quantization. However, in practical applications, engineering challenges and design requirements often lead to non-uniform phase and bit resolution of RIS units, which limits the performance potential of these methods. To address this issue, this paper pioneers the study of discrete non-uniform phase configuration in RIS-assisted multiple-input single-output (MISO) communication and formulates an optimization model to characterize the problem. For single-user scenarios, the paper proposes a partition-andtraversal (PAT) algorithm that efficiently achieves the global optimal solution through systematic search and traversal. For larger-scale multi-user scenarios, aiming to balance performance and computational complexity, an enhanced PAT-based algorithm (E-PAT) is developed. By optimizing the search strategy, the E-PAT algorithm significantly reduces computational overhead and achieves linear complexity. Numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed PAT and EPAT algorithms. Additionally, we provide a detailed analysis of the impact of non-uniform phase quantization on system performance.

cs.IT

Codebook Configuration for RIS-aided Systems via Implicit Neural Representations

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) is envisioned to be an enabling technique in 6G wireless communications. By configuring the reflection beamforming codebook, RIS focuses signals on target receivers to enhance signal strength. In this paper, we investigate the codebook configuration for RIS-aided communication systems. We formulate an implicit relationship between user's coordinates information and the codebook from the perspective of signal radiation mechanisms, and introduce a novel learning-based method, implicit neural representations (INRs), to solve this implicit coordinates-to-codebook mapping problem. Our approach requires only user's coordinates, avoiding reliance on channel models. Additionally, given the significant practical applications of the 1-bit RIS, we formulate the 1-bit codebook configuration as a multi-label classification problem, and propose an encoding strategy for 1-bit RIS to reduce the codebook dimension, thereby improving learning efficiency. Experimental results from simulations and measured data demonstrate significant advantages of our method.

cs.IT

R-NeRF: Neural Radiance Fields for Modeling RIS-enabled Wireless Environments

Recently, ray tracing has gained renewed interest with the advent of Reflective Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) technology, a key enabler of 6G wireless communications due to its capability of intelligent manipulation of electromagnetic waves. However, accurately modeling RIS-enabled wireless environments poses significant challenges due to the complex variations caused by various environmental factors and the mobility of RISs. In this paper, we propose a novel modeling approach using Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) to characterize the dynamics of electromagnetic fields in such environments. Our method utilizes NeRF-based ray tracing to intuitively capture and visualize the complex dynamics of signal propagation, effectively modeling the complete signal pathways from the transmitter to the RIS, and from the RIS to the receiver. This two-stage process accurately characterizes multiple complex transmission paths, enhancing our understanding of signal behavior in real-world scenarios. Our approach predicts the signal field for any specified RIS placement and receiver location, facilitating efficient RIS deployment. Experimental evaluations using both simulated and real-world data validate the significant benefits of our methodology.

cs.IT

TRIS-HAR: Transmissive Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces-assisted Cognitive Wireless Human Activity Recognition Using State Space Models

Human activity recognition (HAR) using radio frequency (RF) signals has garnered considerable attention for its applications in smart environments. However, traditional systems often struggle with limited independent channels between transmitters and receivers, multipath fading, and environmental noise, which particularly degrades performance in through-the-wall scenarios. In this paper, we present a transmissive reconfigurable intelligent surface (TRIS)-assisted through-the-wall human activity recognition (TRIS-HAR) system. The system employs TRIS technology to actively reshape wireless signal propagation, creating multiple independent paths to enhance signal clarity and improve recognition accuracy in complex indoor settings. Additionally, we propose the Human intelligence Mamba (HiMamba), an advanced state space model that captures temporal and frequency-based information for precise activity recognition. HiMamba achieves state-of-the-art performance on two public datasets, demonstrating superior accuracy. Extensive experiments indicate that the TRIS-HAR system improves recognition performance from 85.00% to 98.06% in laboratory conditions and maintains high performance across various environments. This approach offers a robust solution for enhancing RF-based HAR, with promising applications in smart home and elderly care systems.

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Toward Wireless Localization Using Multiple Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

This paper investigates the capabilities and effectiveness of backward sensing centered on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). We demonstrate that the direction of arrival (DoA) estimation of incident waves in the far-field regime can be accomplished using a single RIS by leveraging configurational diversity. Furthermore, we identify that the spatial diversity achieved through deploying multiple RISs enables accurate localization of multiple power sources. Physically accurate and mathematically concise models are introduced to characterize forward signal aggregations via RISs. By employing linearized approximations inherent in the far-field region, the measurement process for various configurations can be expressed as a system of linear equations. The mathematical essence of backward sensing lies in solving this system. A theoretical framework for determining key performance indicators is established through condition number analysis of the sensing operators. In the context of localization using multiple RISs, we examine relationships among the rank of sensing operators, the size of the region of interest (RoI), and the number of elements and measurements. For DoA estimations, we provide an upper bound for the relative error of the least squares reconstruction algorithm. These quantitative analyses offer essential insights for system design and optimization. Numerical experiments validate our findings. To demonstrate the practicality of our proposed RIS-centric sensing approach, we develop a proof-of-concept prototype using universal software radio peripherals (USRP) and employ a magnitude-only reconstruction algorithm tailored for this system. To our knowledge, this represents the first trial of its kind.

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Dreamer: Dual-RIS-aided Imager in Complementary Modes

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have emerged as a promising auxiliary technology for radio frequency imaging. However, existing works face challenges of faint and intricate back-scattered waves and the restricted field-of-view (FoV), both resulting from complex target structures and a limited number of antennas. The synergistic benefits of multi-RIS-aided imaging hold promise for addressing these challenges. Here, we propose a dual-RIS-aided imaging system, Dreamer, which operates collaboratively in complementary modes (reflection-mode and transmission-mode). Dreamer significantly expands the FoV and enhances perception by deploying dual-RIS across various spatial and measurement patterns. Specifically, we perform a fine-grained analysis of how radio-frequency (RF) signals encode scene information in the scattered object modeling. Based on this modeling, we design illumination strategies to balance spatial resolution and observation scale, and implement a prototype system in a typical indoor environment. Moreover, we design a novel artificial neural network with a CNN-external-attention mechanism to translate RF signals into high-resolution images of human contours. Our approach achieves an impressive SSIM score exceeding 0.83, validating its effectiveness in broadening perception modes and enhancing imaging capabilities. The code to reproduce our results is available at https://github.com/fuhaiwang/Dreamer.

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Design and Optimization on Successive RIS-assisted Multi-hop Wireless Communications

As an emerging wireless communication technology, reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has become a basic choice for providing signal coverage services in scenarios with dense obstacles or long tunnels through multi-hop configurations. Conventional works of literature mainly focus on alternating optimization or single-beam calculation in RIS phase configuration, which is limited in considering energy efficiency, and often suffers from inaccurate channel state information (CSI), poor convergence, and high computational complexity. This paper addresses the design and optimization challenges for successive RIS-assisted multi-hop systems. Specifically, we establish a general model for multi-hop communication based on the relationship between the input and output electric fields within each RIS. Meanwhile, we derive the half-power beamwidth of the RIS-reflected beams, considering the beam direction. Leveraging these models and derivations, we propose deployment optimization and beam optimization strategies for multi-hop systems, which feature high aperture efficiency and significant gains in signal power. Simulation and prototype experiment results validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed systems and methods.

cs.IT

Optimal Beamforming of RIS-Aided Wireless Communications: An Alternating Inner Product Maximization Approach

This paper investigates a general discrete $\ell_p$-norm maximization problem, with the power enhancement at steering directions through reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) as an instance. We propose a mathematically concise iterative framework composed of alternating inner product maximizations, well-suited for addressing $\ell_1$- and $\ell_2$-norm maximizations with either discrete or continuous uni-modular variable constraints. The iteration is proven to be monotonically non-decreasing. Moreover, this framework exhibits a distinctive capability to mitigate performance degradation due to discrete quantization, establishing it as the first post-rounding lifting approach applicable to any algorithm intended for the continuous solution. Additionally, as an integral component of the alternating iterations framework, we present a divide-and-sort (DaS) method to tackle the discrete inner product maximization problem. In the realm of $\ell_\infty$-norm maximization with discrete uni-modular constraints, the DaS ensures the identification of the global optimum with polynomial search complexity. We validate the effectiveness of the alternating inner product maximization framework in beamforming through RISs using both numerical experiments and field trials on prototypes. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves higher power enhancement and outperforms other competitors. Finally, we show that discrete phase configurations with moderate quantization bits (e.g., 4-bit) exhibit comparable performance to continuous configurations in terms of power gains.

cs.IT

Multi-user ISAC through Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces: New Algorithms and Experiments

This paper investigates a Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces (SIM)-assisted Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) system. An extended target model is considered, where the BS aims to estimate the complete target response matrix relative to the SIM. Under the constraints of minimum Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) for the communication users (CUs) and maximum transmit power, we jointly optimize the transmit beamforming at the base station (BS) and the end-to-end transmission matrix of the SIM, to minimize the Cramér-Rao Bound (CRB) for target estimation. Effective algorithms such as the alternating optimization (AO) and semidefinite relaxation (SDR) are employed to solve the non-convex SINR-constrained CRB minimization problem. Finally, we design and build an experimental platform for SIM, and evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms for communication and sensing tasks.

cs.IT

RISAR: RIS-assisted Human Activity Recognition with Commercial Wi-Fi Devices

Human activity recognition (HAR) holds significant importance in smart homes, security, and healthcare. Existing systems face limitations because of the insufficient spatial diversity provided by a limited number of antennas. Furthermore, inefficiencies in noise reduction and feature extraction from sensing data pose challenges to recognition performance. This study presents a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted passive human activity recognition (RISAR) method, compatible with commercial Wi-Fi devices. RISAR leverages a RIS to enhance the spatial diversity of Wi-Fi signals, effectively capturing a wider range of information distributed across the spatial domain. A novel high-dimensional factor model based on random matrix theory is proposed to address noise reduction and feature extraction in the temporal domain. A dual-stream spatial-temporal attention network model is developed to assign variable weights to different characteristics and sequences, mimicking human cognitive processes in prioritizing essential information. Experimental analysis shows that RISAR significantly outperforms existing HAR methods in accuracy and efficiency, achieving an average accuracy of 97.26%. These findings underscore RISAR's adaptability and potential as a robust activity recognition solution in real environments.

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Design and Prototyping of Transmissive RIS-Aided Wireless Communication

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) exhibit promising enhancements in coverage and data rates for wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G and beyond. This paper introduces a novel approach by focusing on the design and prototyping of a transmissive RIS, contrasting with existing research predominantly centered on reflective RIS. The achievement of 1-bit transmissive RIS through the antisymmetry configuration of the two PIN diodes, nearly uniform transmission magnitudes but inversed phase states in a wide band can be obtained. A transmissive RIS prototype consisting of 16 $\times$ 16 elements is meticulously designed, fabricated, and subjected to measurement to validate the proposed design. The results demonstrate that the proposed RIS unit cell achieves effective 1-bit phase tuning with minimal insertion loss and a transmission bandwidth of 3 dB exceeding $20\%$ at 5.8GHz. By dynamically modulating the quantized code distributions on the RIS, it becomes possible to construct scanning beams. The experimental outcomes of the RIS-assisted communication system validate that, in comparison to scenarios without RIS, the signal receiving power experiences an increase of approximately 7dB when RIS is deployed to overcome obstacles. This underscores the potential applicability of mobile RIS in practical communication.

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