arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Tareq Y. Al-Naffouri.
This manuscript reviews theoretical results and applications related to quadratic forms in Gaussian random variables. It summarizes definitions, canonical representations, exact and approximate distributional results, numerical inversion methods, applications, and selected open problems for real and complex quadratic forms, multiforms, and ratios of quadratic forms.
Inter-satellite-link-enabled low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are evolving toward networked architectures that support constellation-level cooperation, enabling multiple satellites to jointly serve user terminals through cooperative beamforming. While such cooperation can substantially enhance link budgets and achievable rates, its practical realization is challenged by the scalability limitations of centralized beamforming designs and the stringent computational and signaling constraints of large LEO constellations. This paper develops a fully decentralized cooperative beamforming framework for networked LEO satellite downlinks. Using an ergodic-rate-based formulation, we first derive a centralized weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) solution as a performance benchmark. Building on this formulation, we propose a topology-agnostic decentralized beamforming algorithm by localizing the benchmark and exchanging a set of globally coupled variables whose dimensions are independent of the antenna number and enforcing consensus over arbitrary connected inter-satellite networks. The resulting algorithm admits fully parallel execution across satellites. To further enhance scalability, we eliminate the consensus-related auxiliary variables in closed form and derive a low-complexity per-satellite update rule that is optimal to local iteration and admits a quasi-closed-form solution via scalar line search. Simulation results show that the proposed decentralized schemes closely approach centralized performance under practical inter-satellite topologies, while significantly reducing computational complexity and signaling overhead, enabling scalable cooperative beamforming for large LEO constellations.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) foundation models represent a paradigm shift from task-specific pipelines to generalizable architectures pre-trained on large-scale unlabeled waveform data. This survey presents a unified and deployment-aware review of foundation models and medical large language models (LLMs) for ECG intelligence in cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis, monitoring, and clinical decision support. The central thesis of this survey paper is that next-generation cardiovascular AI systems will be inherently agentic, requiring the synergistic integration of two complementary model classes: (i) ECG foundation models that act as signal-level interpreters, learning rich electrophysiological representations via self-supervised and multimodal pretraining, and (ii) medical LLMs, trained on biomedical text corpora, that function as knowledge-based reasoning backbones for contextual inference, guideline alignment, and clinical decision support. Thus, the survey systematically reviews existing pool of generalist medical LLMs, as well as ECG foundation models that utilize techniques such as self-supervised learning, multimodal ECG-language alignment, vision transformer architectures, and possess capabilities such as zero-shot classification, automated report generation, and longitudinal risk modeling. Recognizing the constraints of consumer-grade wearable edge devices, we further examine model optimization techniques such as quantization, pruning, knowledge distillation, as well as the role of small language models in enabling low-latency, energy-efficient, and privacy-preserving ECG intelligence on edge platforms such as smartwatches. Finally, we outline future directions in multimodal ECG foundation models, agent-driven monitoring, and explainable, secure edge intelligence, with particular emphasis on real-time, on-device cardiovascular analytics in consumer electronics ecosystems.
Networked low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations enabled by inter-satellite links offer a promising path toward ubiquitous broadband non-terrestrial services. However, fast orbital motion induces frequent scheduling updates and handovers, while stringent on-board constraints (e.g., limited radio-frequency chains) tightly couple user scheduling with cooperative beamforming. This paper investigates handover-aware power-efficient downlink transmission in networked LEO systems under statistical channel state information. We introduce a two-segment frame structure that separates handover-related operations from user-plane transmission, and propose a power consumption model that captures both the switching cost of newly established satellite-user links and the reduced effective transmission window during handover. Using a hardening-bound ergodic-rate metric, we formulate a per-frame network-wide power minimization problem with joint cooperative beamforming and implicit scheduling under segmented quality-of-service constraints, per-satellite power budgets, and serving-cardinality limits. To address scheduling-induced combinatorial sparsity and nonconvex fractional rate constraints, we develop an iterative algorithm that combines a reweighted $\ell_2$ surrogate with a penalty-based relaxation and a fractional-programming inner loop, yielding a sequence of convex second-order cone programs. Simulations based on time-varying orbital dynamics with frame-wise serving-set evolution and maritime user data quantify the power-handover tradeoff and demonstrate consistent power savings and improved feasibility over non-cooperative and pre-scheduled cooperative baselines.
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces have emerged as a promising hardware platform for shaping wireless propagation environments at millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) frequencies and beyond. While many existing studies emphasize channel modeling and signal processing, practical RIS deployment is fundamentally governed by hardware design choices and their system-level implications. This paper presents a hardware-centric overview of recent mm-Wave RIS developments, covering wideband realizations, high-resolution phase-quantized designs, fully printed low-cost implementations, optically transparent surfaces, RIS-on-chip solutions, and emerging three-dimensional architectures. Key challenges including mutual coupling, calibration, multi-RIS interaction, and frequency-dependent phase control are discussed to bridge hardware realization with system-level optimization. This overview provides practical design insights and aims to guide future RIS research toward scalable, efficient, and practically deployable intelligent surface architectures.
The terahertz (THz) band is a key enabler for future wireless systems, promising ultra-high data rates and dense spatial reuse. However, the reliability of THz links remains a major challenge due to severe path loss and small-scale fading effects, particularly in dynamic indoor and outdoor environments. This paper presents a comprehensive diversity analysis framework for THz communication systems under small-scale fading conditions. We model fading statistically using the generalized $α$-$μ$ distribution for indoor scenarios and the mixture of gamma (MG) model for outdoor propagation. We complement previous works that analyzed diversity under the $α$-$μ$ channels [1],[2]. In particular, we present new insights on diversity for the MG channel in addition to recovering the results of [2] using a different approach. Moreover, we derive asymptotic expressions for the bit error rate as a function of the inverse signal-to-noise ratio, recovering all of the $α$-$μ$ diversity results using a simpler approximation method. The analytical results are extensively validated through Monte Carlo simulations, demonstrating excellent agreement. Our findings show that diversity gains in THz systems are strongly influenced by the number of independent paths, the severity of fading, and frequency selectivity. The proposed framework provides system designers with clear guidelines for quantifying and optimizing diversity gains in emerging channel models, paving the way for more reliable high-frequency wireless links in next-generation networks.
We investigate a multi-low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite system that simultaneously provides positioning and communication services to terrestrial user terminals. To address the challenges of accurately acquiring channel state information in LEO satellite systems, we propose a novel two-timescale positioning-aided channel estimation framework, exploiting the distinct variation rates of position-related parameters and channel gains inherent in LEO satellite channels. Using the misspecified Cramér-Rao bound (MCRB) theory, we systematically analyze positioning performance under practical imperfections, such as inter-satellite clock bias and carrier frequency offset. Furthermore, we theoretically demonstrate how position information derived from downlink positioning can enhance uplink channel estimation accuracy, even in the presence of positioning errors, through an MCRB-based analysis. To address the limited link budgets and communication rates of single-satellite communication, we develop a multi-LEO cooperative beamforming strategy for downlink transmission that leverages cluster-wise satellite cooperation while maintaining reduced complexity. Theoretical analyses and numerical results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed framework in facilitating high-precision downlink positioning under practical imperfections, facilitating uplink channel estimation, and enabling efficient downlink communication.
With the rapid expansion of low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, thousands of satellites are now in operation, many equipped with onboard GNSS receivers capable of continuous orbit determination and time synchronization. This development is creating an unprecedented spaceborne GNSS network, offering new opportunities for network-driven precise LEO orbit and clock estimation. Yet, current onboard GNSS processing is largely standalone and often insufficient for high-precision applications, while centralized fusion is challenging due to computational bottlenecks and the lack of in-orbit infrastructure. In this work, we report a decentralized GNSS network over large-scale LEO constellations, where each satellite processes its own measurements while exchanging compact information with neighboring nodes to enable precise orbit and time determination. We model the moving constellation as a dynamic graph and tailor a momentum-accelerated gradient tracking (GT) method to ensure steady convergence despite topology changes. Numerical simulations with constellations containing hundreds of satellites show that the proposed method matches the accuracy of an ideal centralized benchmark, while substantially reducing communication burdens. Ultimately, this framework supports the development of autonomous and self-organizing space systems, enabling high-precision navigation with reduced dependence on continuous ground contact.
Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are rapidly becoming essential enablers of next-generation wireless systems, offering global broadband access, high-precision localization, and reliable sensing beyond terrestrial coverage. However, the inherent limitations of individual LEO satellites, including restricted power, limited antenna aperture, and constrained onboard processing, hinder their ability to meet the growing demands of 6G applications. To address these challenges, this article introduces the concept of distributed integrated sensing, localization, and communication (DISLAC) over LEO constellations, inspired by distributed multiple input multiple output architectures. By enabling inter-satellite cooperation through inter-satellite links, DISLAC jointly exploits communication, localization, and sensing functionalities, achieving synergistic gains in throughput, positioning accuracy, and sensing robustness through shared resources and cooperative design. We present illustrative case studies that quantify these benefits and analyze key system-level considerations, including synchronization, antenna reconfigurability, and inter-satellite link design. The article concludes by outlining open research directions to advance the practical deployment of DISLAC in future non-terrestrial networks.
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) applications are often hindered by various sources of error, with multipath interference being one of the most challenging, particularly in urban environments. In this work, we build on previous research by implementing a GNSS array-based multipath detection algorithm, incorporating real-time attitude estimation for dynamic scenarios. The method fuses GNSS and IMU data using an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) on a manifold, enabling continuous attitude tracking. The proposed approach utilizes attitude information from satellite combinations to identify and exclude multipath-affected satellites, improving the accuracy of both positioning and attitude determination. To address computational challenges associated with evaluating large numbers of satellite combinations, we propose the use of the Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm, which reduces the number of combinations assessed while maintaining high detection performance. Performance evaluations are conducted using trajectories and IMU readings from the KITTI dataset. GNSS observations are simulated based on ground truth positions and satellite ephemeris. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in detecting satellites affected by multipath interference. Significant improvements in positioning accuracy are observed, particularly in scenarios where a large portion of the visible satellites are contaminated by severe multipath.
Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are a crucial component of the future non-terrestrial networks (NTN) due to lower latency, robust signal strengths, shorter revisit times, and dense constellations. However, acquiring reliable channel state information (CSI) in LEO satellite communication remains challenging owing to severe signal attenuation over long propagation distances and short coherence times. Despite these challenges, LEO channels benefit from pronounced line-of-sight dominance and geometric properties inherently tied to positioning information. In this work, we propose an integrated positioning and communication (IPAC) framework for multi-LEO satellite networks to address the unique challenges posed by LEO channels. Specifically, we leverage in-the-loop LEO positioning to exploit users' position information for improving uplink CSI acquisition. To overcome the link-budget limitations of single-satellite systems, cooperative multi-LEO uplink data detection is adopted. By exploiting the different coherent timescales of position-related parameters and random channel gains, we develop a dual-timescale Kalman filter-based IPAC framework: an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for tracking users' position and velocity in the large-timescale, and a Kalman filter that leverages the position information obtained in the large-timescale for improved data-aided uplink channel estimation in the small-timescale. Finally, the two tasks of channel estimation and cooperative data detection are jointly addressed through the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed IPAC approach outperforms the conventional baseline in terms of channel estimation accuracy and communication performance.
The current body of research on Parkinson's disease (PD) screening, monitoring, and management has evolved along two largely independent trajectories. The first research community focuses on multimodal sensing of PD-related biomarkers using noninvasive technologies such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), force/pressure insoles, electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), speech and acoustic analysis, and RGB/RGB-D motion capture systems. These studies emphasize data acquisition, feature extraction, and machine learning-based classification for PD screening, diagnosis, and disease progression modeling. In parallel, a second research community has concentrated on robotic intervention and rehabilitation, employing socially assistive robots (SARs), robot-assisted rehabilitation (RAR) systems, and virtual reality (VR)-integrated robotic platforms for improving motor and cognitive function, enhancing social engagement, and supporting caregivers. Despite the complementary goals of these two domains, their methodological and technological integration remains limited, with minimal data-level or decision-level coupling between the two. With the advent of advanced artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs), agentic AI systems, a unique opportunity now exists to unify these research streams. We envision a closed-loop sensor-AI-robot framework in which multimodal sensing continuously guides the interaction between the patient, caregiver, humanoid robot (and physician) through AI agents that are powered by a multitude of AI models such as robotic and wearables foundation models, LLM-based reasoning, reinforcement learning, and continual learning. Such closed-loop system enables personalized, explainable, and context-aware intervention, forming the basis for digital twin of the PD patient that can adapt over time to deliver intelligent, patient-centered PD care.
In this paper, we propose scalable distributed beamforming schemes over low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks that rely solely on statistical channel state information for downlink orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems. We begin by introducing the system model and presenting a pragmatic yet effective analog beamformer and user-scheduling design. We then derive a closed-form lower bound on the ergodic sum rate, based on the hardening bound, for the digital beamformer design. Next, we formulate a per-satellite power-constrained sum-rate maximization problem, whose centralized solution, obtained via the weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) framework, establishes performance limits and motivates decentralized strategies. We subsequently introduce two decentralized optimization schemes, based on approximating the hardening bound and decentralizing the WMMSE framework, for representative inter-satellite link topologies. In the Ring scheme, satellites update beamformers locally and exchange intermediate parameters sequentially. In the Star scheme, edge satellites update beamformers locally and in parallel, achieving consensus on intermediate parameters at a central satellite using a penalty-dual decomposition framework. Extensive simulations demonstrate that our distributed designs achieve near-centralized performance with superior scalability, substantially outperforming simple closed-form beamformers and single-satellite baselines in sum rate. Additionally, the delay-overhead trade-off between the two topologies is revealed.
Achieving terabit-per-second (Tbps) data rates in terahertz (THz)-band communications requires bridging the complexity gap in baseband transceiver design. This work addresses the signal processing challenges associated with data detection in THz-band multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. We begin by analyzing the trade-offs between performance and complexity across various detection schemes and THz channel models, demonstrating significant complexity reduction by leveraging spatial parallelism across subspaces of correlated, typically ill-conditioned THz MIMO channels. We also derive accurate theoretical bounds on the detection error probability by incorporating THz-specific channel distributions and accounting for mismatches introduced by subspace decomposition. In addition, we propose a variation of subspace detectors that combines channel-matrix sorting, QR decomposition, and puncturing. Furthermore, under wideband THz UM-MIMO systems, we introduce a channel-matrix reuse strategy that minimizes exhaustive computations while maintaining reliable detection performance within a coherence bandwidth. Simulations over accurate THz channels show that the proposed efficient spatial parallelization schemes yield multi-dB performance gains, while the proposed reuse strategy offers significant computational savings with minimal performance degradation.
This paper presents the concept, design, channel modeling, beamforming algorithm development, prototype fabrication, and experimental measurement of an electromagnetically reconfigurable fluid antenna system (ER-FAS), in which each FAS array element features electromagnetic (EM) reconfigurability. Unlike most existing FAS works that investigate spatial reconfigurability by adjusting the position and/or orientation of array elements, the proposed ER-FAS enables direct control over the EM characteristics of each element, allowing for dynamic radiation pattern reconfigurability. Specifically, a novel ER-FAS architecture leveraging software-controlled fluidics is proposed, and corresponding wireless channel models are established. Based on this ER-FAS channel model, a low-complexity greedy beamforming algorithm is developed to jointly optimize the analog phase shift and the radiation state of each array element. The accuracy of the ER-FAS channel model and the effectiveness of the beamforming algorithm are validated through (i) full-wave EM simulations and (ii) numerical spectral efficiency evaluations. These results confirm that the proposed ER-FAS significantly enhances spectral efficiency in both near-field and far-field scenarios compared to conventional antenna arrays. To further validate this design, we fabricate prototypes for both the ER-FAS element and array, using Galinstan liquid metal alloy, fluid silver paste, and software-controlled fluidic channels. The simulation results are experimentally validated through prototype measurements conducted in an anechoic chamber. Additionally, several indoor communication experiments using a pair of software-defined radios demonstrate the superior received power and bit error rate performance of the ER-FAS prototype.
This paper addresses the design of multi-antenna precoding strategies, considering hardware limitations such as low-resolution digital-to-analog converters (DACs), which necessitate the quantization of transmitted signals. The typical approach starts with optimizing a precoder, followed by a quantization step to meet hardware requirements. This study analyzes the performance of a quantization scheme applied to the box-constrained regularized zero-forcing (RZF) precoder in the asymptotic regime, where the number of antennas and users grows proportionally. The box constraint, initially designed to cope with low-dynamic range amplifiers, is used here to control quantization noise rather than for amplifier compatibility. A significant challenge in analyzing the quantized precoder is that the input to the quantization operation does not follow a Gaussian distribution, making traditional methods such as Bussgang's decomposition unsuitable. To overcome this, the paper extends the Gordon's inequality and introduces a novel Gaussian Min-Max Theorem to model the distribution of the channel-distorted precoded signal. The analysis derives the tight lower bound for the signal-to-distortion-plus-noise ratio (SDNR) and the bit error rate (BER), showing that optimal tuning of the amplitude constraint improves performance.
The integration of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) with extremely large multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) arrays at the base station has emerged as a key enabler for enhancing wireless network performance. However, this setup introduces high-dimensional channel matrices, leading to increased computational complexity and pilot overhead in channel estimation. Mutual coupling (MC) effects among densely packed unit cells, spatial correlation, and near-field propagation conditions further complicate the estimation process. Conventional estimators, such as linear minimum mean square error (MMSE), require channel statistics that are challenging to acquire for high-dimensional arrays, while least squares (LS) estimators suffer from performance limitations. To address these challenges, the reduced-subspace least squares (RS-LS) estimator leverages array geometry to enhance estimation accuracy. This work advances the promising RS-LS estimation algorithm by explicitly incorporating MC effects into the more realistic and challenging near-field propagation environment within the increasingly relevant generalized RIS-aided MIMO framework. Additionally, we investigate the impact of MC on the spatial degrees of freedom (DoF). Our analysis reveals that accounting for MC effects provides a significant performance gain of approximately 5 dB at an SNR of 5 dB, compared to conventional methods that ignore MC.
This work studies the problems of channel estimation and beamforming for active reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication, incorporating the mutual coupling (MC) effect through an electromagnetically consistent model. We first demonstrate that MC can be incorporated into a compressed sensing (CS) formulation, albeit with an increase in the dimensionality of the sensing matrix. To overcome this increased complexity, we propose a two-stage strategy. Initially, a low-complexity MC-unaware CS estimation is performed to obtain a coarse channel estimate, which is then used to implement a dictionary reduction (DR) for the MC-aware estimation, effectively reducing the dimensionality of the sensing matrices. This method achieves estimation accuracy close to the direct MC-aware CS method with less overall computational complexity. Furthermore, we consider the joint optimization of RIS configuration, base station precoding, and user combining in a single-user MIMO system. We employ an alternating optimization strategy to optimize these three beamformers. The primary challenge lies in optimizing the RIS configuration, as the MC effect renders the problem non-convex and intractable. To address this, we propose a novel algorithm based on the successive convex approximation (SCA) and the Neumann series expansion. Within the SCA framework, we propose a surrogate function that rigorously satisfies both convexity and equal-gradient conditions to update the iteration direction. Numerical results validate our proposal, demonstrating that the proposed channel estimation and beamforming methods effectively manage the MC in RIS, achieving higher spectral efficiency compared to state-of-the-art approaches.