arXiv subjects

Stelios Louka

Publications and source records attributed to Stelios Louka.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Information-Theoretic Meta Dynamic Programming for Signalling and Control of POMDPs

In this paper, we study the information-theoretic characterization of simultaneous signalling and control over channels modeled by partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs). The problem is formulated as an optimization over randomized control strategies that maximize the directed information from actions to observations, subject to an average-cost constraint. We derive a novel dynamic programming framework in which the state is defined on the space of conditional probability distributions, leading to a high-level ``meta'' dynamic program. Specifically, we show that two coupled information states, namely, the posterior distribution of the system state and a distribution over such posteriors, satisfy Markov recursions and provide sufficient statistics for optimal control. This structure enables the decomposition of optimal strategies into separated randomized policies that depend only on these information states. Our results establish necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality and unify classical stochastic control and information-theoretic formulations. In particular, we show that in the absence of signalling, the proposed framework reduces to the standard dynamic programming equations for POMDPs. The developed approach provides a principled foundation for analyzing and designing control systems with intrinsic information constraints.

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arXiv2024

Signalling and Control in Nonlinear Stochastic Systems: An Information State Approach with Applications

We consider optimal signalling and control of discrete-time nonlinear partially observable stochastic systems in state space form. In the first part of the paper, we characterize the operational {\it control-coding capacity}, $C_{FB}$ in bits/second, by an information theoretic optimization problem of encoding signals or messages into randomized controller-encoder strategies, and reproducing the messages at the output of the system using a decoder or estimator with arbitrary small asymptotic error probability. Our analysis of $C_{FB}$ is based on realizations of randomized strategies (controller-encoders), in terms of information states of nonlinear filtering theory, and either uniform or arbitrary distributed random variables (RVs). In the second part of the paper, we analyze the linear-quadratic Gaussian partially observable stochastic system (LQG-POSS). We show that simultaneous signalling and control leads to randomized strategies described by finite-dimensional sufficient statistics, that involve two Kalman-filters, and consist of control, estimation and signalling strategies. We apply decentralized optimization techniques to prove a separation principle, and to derive the optimal control part of randomized strategies explicitly in terms of a control matrix difference Riccati equation (DRE).

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arXiv2022

A Riccati-Lyapunov Approach to Nonfeedback Capacity of MIMO Gaussian Channels Driven by Stable and Unstable Noise

In this paper it is shown that the nonfeedback capacity of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) additive Gaussian noise (AGN) channels, when the noise is nonstationary and unstable, is characterized by an asymptotic optimization problem that involves, a generalized matrix algebraic Riccati equation (ARE) of filtering theory, and a matrix Lyapunov equation of stability theory of Gaussian systems. Furthermore, conditions are identified such that, the characterization of nonfeedback capacity corresponds to the uniform asymptotic per unit time limit, over all initial distributions, of the characterization of a finite block or transmission without feedback information (FTwFI) capacity, which involves, two generalized matrix difference Riccati equations (DREs) and a matrix difference Lyapunov equation.

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arXiv2021

Feedback Capacity Formulas of AGN Channels Driven by Nonstationary Autoregressive Moving Average Noise

In this paper we derive closed-form formulas of feedback capacity and nonfeedback achievable rates, for Additive Gaussian Noise (AGN) channels driven by nonstationary autoregressive moving average (ARMA) noise (with unstable one poles and zeros), based on time-invariant feedback codes and channel input distributions. From the analysis and simulations follows the surprising observations, (i) the use of time-invariant channel input distributions gives rise to multiple regimes of capacity that depend on the parameters of the ARMA noise, which may or may not use feedback, (ii) the more unstable the pole (resp. zero) of the ARMA noise the higher (resp. lower) the feedback capacity, (iii) certain conditions, known as detectability and stabilizability are necessary and sufficient to ensure the feedback capacity formulas and nonfeedback achievable rates {\it are independent of the initial state of the ARMA noise}. Another surprizing observation is that Kim's \cite{kim2010} characterization of feedback capacity which is developed for stable ARMA noise, if applied to the unstable ARMA noise, gives a lower value of feedback capacity compared to our feedback capacity formula.

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arXiv2021

On the Cover and Pombra Gaussian Feedback Capacity: Complete Sequential Characterizations via a Sufficient Statistic

The main objective of this paper is to derive a new sequential characterization of the Cover and Pombra \cite{cover-pombra1989} characterization of the $n-$finite block or transmission feedback information ($n$-FTFI) capacity, which clarifies several issues of confusion and incorrect interpretation of results in literature. The optimal channel input processes of the new equivalent sequential characterizations are expressed as functionals of a sufficient statistic and a Gaussian orthogonal innovations process. From the new representations follows that the Cover and Pombra characterization of the $n-$FTFI capacity is expressed as a functional of two generalized matrix difference Riccati equations (DRE) of filtering theory of Gaussian systems. This contradicts results which are redundant in the literature, and illustrates the fundamental complexity of the feedback capacity formula.

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arXiv2020

New Formulas of Feedback Capacity for AGN Channels with Memory: A Time-Domain Sufficient Statistic Approach

In the recent paper [1] it is shown, via an application example, that the Cover and Pombra [2] "characterization of the $n-$block or transmission" feedback capacity formula, of additive Gaussian noise (AGN) channels, is the subject of much confusion in the literature, with redundant incorrect results. The main objective of this paper is to clarify the main points of confusion and remove any further ambiguity. The first part of the paper applies time-domain methods, to derive for a first time, equivalent sequential characterizations of the Cover and Pombra characterization of feedback capacity of AGN channels driven by nonstationary and nonergodic Gaussian noise. The optimal channel input processes of the new equivalent sequential characterizations are expressed as functionals of a sufficient statistic and a Gaussian orthogonal innovations process. From the new representations follows that the Cover and Pombra $n-$block capacity formula is expressed as a functional of two generalized matrix difference Riccati equations (DRE) of filtering theory of Gaussian systems, contrary to results that appeared in the literature. In the second part of the paper the existence of the asymptotic limit of the $n-$block feedback capacity formula is shown to be equivalent to the convergence properties of solutions of the two generalized DREs. Further, necessary and or sufficient conditions are identified for existence of the asymptotic limits, for stable and unstable Gaussian noise, when the optimal input distributions are time-invariant, but not necessarily stationary. The paper contains an in depth analysis, with examples, of the specific technical issues, which are overlooked in past literature [3-7], that studied the AGN channel of [2], for stationary noises.

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