Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Xiaohu You

Publications and source records attributed to Xiaohu You.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Towards 6G Native-AI Edge Networks: A Semantic-Aware and Agentic Intelligence Paradigm

The evolution toward sixth-generation wireless systems positions intelligence as a native network capability, fundamentally transforming the design of radio access networks (RANs). Within this vision, Semantic-native communication and agentic intelligence are expected to play central roles. SemCom departs from bit-level fidelity and instead emphasizes task-oriented meaning exchange, enabling compact SC and introducing new performance measures such as semantic fidelity and task success rate. Agentic intelligence endows distributed RAN entities with goal-driven autonomy, reasoning, planning, and multi-agent collaboration, increasingly supported by foundation models and knowledge graphs. In this work, we first introduce the conceptual foundations of SemCom and agentic networking, and discuss why existing AI-driven O-RAN solutions remain largely bit-centric and task-siloed. We then present a unified taxonomy that organizes recent research along three axes: i) semantic abstraction level (symbol/feature/intent/knowledge), ii) agent autonomy and coordination granularity (single-, multi-, and hierarchical-agent), and iii) RAN control placement across PHY/MAC, near-real-time RIC, and non-real-time RIC. Based on this taxonomy, we systematically introduce enabling technologies including task-oriented semantic encoders/decoders, multi-agent reinforcement learning, foundation-model-assisted RAN agents, and knowledge-graph-based reasoning for cross-layer awareness. Representative 6G use cases, such as immersive XR, vehicular V2X, and industrial digital twins, are analyzed to illustrate the semantic-agentic convergence in practice. Finally, we identify open challenges in semantic representation standardization, scalable trustworthy agent coordination, O-RAN interoperability, and energy-efficient AI deployment, and outline research directions toward operational semantic-agentic AI-RAN.

eess.SP↗

Bayesian Probability Fusion for Multi-AP Collaborative Sensing in Mobile Networks

Integrated sensing and communication is widely acknowledged as a foundational technology for next-generation mobile networks. Compared with monostatic sensing, multi-access point (AP) collaborative sensing endows mobile networks with broader, more accurate, and resilient sensing capabilities, which are critical for diverse location-based sectors. This paper focuses on collaborative sensing in multi-AP networks and proposes a Bayesian probability fusion framework for target parameter estimation using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing waveform. The framework models multi-AP received signals as probability distributions to capture stochastic observations from channel noise and scattering coefficients. Prior information is then incorporated into the joint probability density function to cast the problem as a constrained maximum a posteriori estimation. To address the high-dimensional optimization, we develop a prior-constrained gradient ascent (PCGA) algorithm that decouples correlated parameters and performs efficient gradient updates guided by the target prior. Theoretical analysis covers optimal fusion weights for global signal-to-noise ratio maximization, PCGA convergence, and the Cramer-Rao lower bound of the estimator, with insights applicable to broader fusion schemes. Extensive numerical simulations and real-world experiments with commercial devices show the framework reduces transmission overhead by 90% versus signal fusion and lowers estimation error by 41% relative to parameter fusion. Notably, field tests achieve submeter accuracy with 50% probability in typical coverage of mmWave APs. These improvements highlight a favorable balance between communication efficiency and estimation accuracy for practical multi-AP sensing deployment. The dataset is released for research purposes and is publicly available at: http://pmldatanet.com.cn/dataapp/multimodal

eess.SP↗

A Generalized Bisimulation Metric of State Similarity between Markov Decision Processes: From Theoretical Propositions to Applications

The bisimulation metric (BSM) is a powerful tool for computing state similarities within a Markov decision process (MDP), revealing that states closer in BSM have more similar optimal value functions. While BSM has been successfully utilized in reinforcement learning (RL) for tasks like state representation learning and policy exploration, its application to multiple-MDP scenarios, such as policy transfer, remains challenging. Prior work has attempted to generalize BSM to pairs of MDPs, but a lack of rigorous analysis of its mathematical properties has limited further theoretical progress. In this work, we formally establish a generalized bisimulation metric (GBSM) between pairs of MDPs, which is rigorously proven with the three fundamental properties: GBSM symmetry, inter-MDP triangle inequality, and the distance bound on identical state spaces. Leveraging these properties, we theoretically analyse policy transfer, state aggregation, and sampling-based estimation in MDPs, obtaining explicit bounds that are strictly tighter than those derived from the standard BSM. Additionally, GBSM provides a closed-form sample complexity for estimation, improving upon existing asymptotic results based on BSM. Numerical results validate our theoretical findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of GBSM in multi-MDP scenarios.

cs.LG↗

AI Agent Access (A\^3) Network: An Embodied, Communication-Aware Multi-Agent Framework for 6G Coverage

The vision of 6G communication demands autonomous and resilient networking in environments without fixed infrastructure. Yet most multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) approaches focus on isolated stages - exploration, relay formation, or access - under static deployments and centralized control, limiting adaptability. We propose the AI Agent Access (A\^3) Network, a unified, embodied intelligence-driven framework that transforms multi-agent networking into a dynamic, decentralized, and end-to-end system. Unlike prior schemes, the A\^3 Network integrates exploration, target user access, and backhaul maintenance within a single learning process, while supporting on-demand agent addition during runtime. Its decentralized policies ensure that even a single agent can operate independently with limited observations, while coordinated agents achieve scalable, communication-optimized coverage. By embedding link-level communication metrics into actor-critic learning, the A\^3 Network couples topology formation with robust decision-making. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the A\^3 Network not only balances exploration and communication efficiency but also delivers system-level adaptability absent in existing MARL frameworks, offering a new paradigm for 6G multi-agent networks.

eess.SY↗

Average Achievable Rate Analysis of Cell-Free Massive MIMO in the Finite Blocklength Regime with Imperfect CSI

Acquiring perfect channel state information (CSI) introduces substantial challenges in cell-free massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO) systems, primarily due to the large dimensionality of channel parameters, especially under ultra-reliable low-latency communication (uRLLC) constraints. Furthermore, the impact of imperfect CSI on the average achievable rate within the finite blocklength regime remains largely unexplored. Motivated by this gap, this paper proposes a novel analytical framework that provides a closed-form expression for the average achievable rate with imperfect CSI in the Laplace domain. We demonstrate analytically that both the channel dispersion and the expected channel capacity can be expressed explicitly in terms of the Laplace transform of the large-scale fading component. Numerical simulations confirm that the derived expressions match closely with Monte Carlo simulations, verifying their accuracy. Furthermore, we theoretically show that although imperfect CSI degrades performance in the finite blocklength regime, the inherent characteristics of CF-mMIMO architecture effectively mitigates this loss.

cs.IT↗

A Framework of Arithmetic-Level Variable Precision Computing for In-Memory Architecture: Case Study in MIMO Signal Processing

Computational complexity poses a significant challenge in wireless communication. Most existing attempts aim to reduce it through algorithm-specific approaches. However, the precision of computing, which directly relates to both computing performance and computational complexity, is a dimension that is fundamental but rarely explored in the literature. With the emerging architecture of in-memory computing, variable precision computing (VPC) is enabled, allowing each arithmetic operation to be processed with a distinct and specifically optimized computing precision. In this paper, we establish a unified framework of arithmetic-level variable precision computing (AL-VPC), which aims to determine the optimized computing precision for each arithmetic operation. We first develop an arithmetic propagation error model exploiting stochastic analysis, and then formulate a mathematical optimization problem to strike balance between computing performance and computational complexity. Two algorithms, namely, offline VPC and online VPC, are proposed to solve the problem considering various practical concerns. Particularly, in a case study on zero-forcing (ZF) precoding, we reveal the Pareto boundary between computing performance and complexity, which exhibits up to a 60% sum-rate enhancement or equivalently up to a 30% complexity reduction compared to the traditional fixed-length methods.

eess.SP↗

Performance Analysis of Spatiotemporal 2-D Polar Codes for Massive MIMO with MMSE Receivers

With the evolution from 5G to 6G, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) faces increasingly stringent performance requirements. Lower latency constraints demand shorter channel coding lengths, which can severely degrade decoding performance. The massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system is considered a crucial technology to address this challenge due to its abundant spatial degrees of freedom (DoF). While polar codes are theoretically capacity-achieving in the limit of infinite code length, their practical applicability is limited by significant decoding latency. In this paper, we establish a unified theoretical framework and propose a novel spatiotemporal two-dimensional (2-D) polar coding scheme for massive MIMO systems employing minimum mean square error (MMSE) receivers. The polar transform is jointly applied over both spatial and temporal dimensions to fully exploit the large spatial DoF. By leveraging the near-deterministic signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) property of MMSE detection, the spatial domain is modeled as a set of parallel Gaussian sub-channels. Within this framework, we perform a theoretical analysis of the 2-D polarization behavior using the Gaussian approximation method, and the capacity-achieving property of the proposed scheme is proved under finite blocklength constraints and large spatial DoF. Simulation results further demonstrate that, compared to traditional time-domain polar codes, the proposed 2-D scheme can significantly reduce latency while guaranteeing reliability, or alternatively improve reliability under the same latency constraint -- offering a capacity-achieving and latency-efficient channel coding solution for massive MIMO systems in future 6G URLLC scenarios.

cs.IT↗

Latent-attention Based Transformer for Near ML Polar Decoding in Short-code Regime

Transformer architectures have emerged as promising deep learning (DL) tools for modeling complex sequence-to-sequence interactions in channel decoding. However, current transformer-based decoders for error correction codes (ECCs) demonstrate inferior performance and generalization capabilities compared to conventional algebraic decoders, especially in short-code regimes. In this work, we propose a novel latent-attention based transformer (LAT) decoder for polar codes that addresses the limitations on performance and generalization through three pivotal innovations. First, we develop a latent-attention mechanism that supersedes the conventional self-attention mechanism. This architectural modification enables independent learning of the Query and Key matrices for code-aware attention computation, decoupling them from the Value matrix to emphasize position-wise decoding interactions while reducing context correlation interference. Second, we devise an advanced training framework incorporating three synergistic components: entropy-aware importance sampling that emphasizes low-probability regions in the signal constellation space, experience reflow that introduces empirical labels to improve characterization of decoding boundaries, and dynamic label smoothing for likelihood-based regularization. Third, we propose a code-aware mask scheme which allows dynamic adaptation for varying code configurations. Numerical evaluations demonstrate that the proposed LAT decoder achieves near maximum-likelihood (ML) performance in terms of both bit error rate (BER) and block error rate (BLER) for short-length polar codes. Furthermore, the architecture exhibits robust generalization capabilities across diverse code rates and code lengths.

eess.SP↗

Distributed satellite information networks: Architecture, enabling technologies, and trends

Driven by the vision of ubiquitous connectivity and wireless intelligence, the evolution of ultra-dense constellation-based satellite-integrated Internet is underway, now taking preliminary shape. Nevertheless, the entrenched institutional silos and limited, nonrenewable heterogeneous network resources leave current satellite systems struggling to accommodate the escalating demands of next-generation intelligent applications. In this context, the distributed satellite information networks (DSIN), exemplified by the cohesive clustered satellites system, have emerged as an innovative architecture, bridging information gaps across diverse satellite systems, such as communication, navigation, and remote sensing, and establishing a unified, open information network paradigm to support resilient space information services. This survey first provides a profound discussion about innovative network architectures of DSIN, encompassing distributed regenerative satellite network architecture, distributed satellite computing network architecture, and reconfigurable satellite formation flying, to enable flexible and scalable communication, computing and control. The DSIN faces challenges from network heterogeneity, unpredictable channel dynamics, sparse resources, and decentralized collaboration frameworks. To address these issues, a series of enabling technologies is identified, including channel modeling and estimation, cloud-native distributed MIMO cooperation, grant-free massive access, network routing, and the proper combination of all these diversity techniques. Furthermore, to heighten the overall resource efficiency, the cross-layer optimization techniques are further developed to meet upper-layer deterministic, adaptive and secure information services requirements. In addition, emerging research directions and new opportunities are highlighted on the way to achieving the DSIN vision.

cs.IT↗

A New Pathway to Integrated Learning and Communication (ILAC): Large AI Model and Hyperdimensional Computing for Communication

The rapid evolution of forthcoming sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks necessitates the seamless integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with wireless communications to support emerging intelligent applications that demand both efficient communication and robust learning performance. This dual requirement calls for a unified framework of integrated learning and communication (ILAC), where AI enhances communication through intelligent signal processing and adaptive resource management, while wireless networks support AI model deployment by enabling efficient and reliable data exchanges. However, achieving this integration presents significant challenges in practice. Communication constraints, such as limited bandwidth and fluctuating channels, hinder learning accuracy and convergence. Simultaneously, AI-driven learning dynamics, including model updates and task-driven inference, introduce excessive burdens on communication systems, necessitating flexible, context-aware transmission strategies. Finally, we present a case study on a cost-to-performance optimization problem, where task assignments, model size selection, bandwidth allocation, and transmission power control are jointly optimized, considering computational cost, communication efficiency, and inference accuracy. Leveraging the Dinkelbach and alternating optimization algorithms, we offer a practical and effective solution to achieve an optimal balance between learning performance and communication constraints.

eess.SP↗

Large Vision Model-Enhanced Digital Twin with Deep Reinforcement Learning for User Association and Load Balancing in Dynamic Wireless Networks

Optimization of user association in a densely deployed cellular network is usually challenging and even more complicated due to the dynamic nature of user mobility and fluctuation in user counts. While deep reinforcement learning (DRL) emerges as a promising solution, its application in practice is hindered by high trial-and-error costs in real world and unsatisfactory physical network performance during training. Also, existing DRL-based user association methods are typically applicable to scenarios with a fixed number of users due to convergence and compatibility challenges. To address these limitations, we introduce a large vision model (LVM)-enhanced digital twin (DT) for wireless networks and propose a parallel DT-driven DRL method for user association and load balancing in networks with dynamic user counts, distribution, and mobility patterns. To construct this LVM-enhanced DT for DRL training, we develop a zero-shot generative user mobility model, named Map2Traj, based on the diffusion model. Map2Traj estimates user trajectory patterns and spatial distributions solely from street maps. DRL models undergo training in the DT environment, avoiding direct interactions with physical networks. To enhance the generalization ability of DRL models for dynamic scenarios, a parallel DT framework is further established to alleviate strong correlation and non-stationarity in single-environment training and improve training efficiency. Numerical results show that the developed LVM-enhanced DT achieves closely comparable training efficacy to the real environment, and the proposed parallel DT framework even outperforms the single real-world environment in DRL training with nearly 20\% gain in terms of cell-edge user performance.

cs.LG↗

A Novel Massive Random Access in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems for High-Speed Mobility with OTFS Modulation

In the research of next-generation wireless communication technologies, orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) modulation is emerging as a promising technique for high-speed mobile environments due to its superior efficiency and robustness in doubly selective channels. Additionally, the cell-free architecture, which eliminates the issues associated with cell boundaries, offers broader coverage for radio access networks. By combining cell-free network architecture with OTFS modulation, the system may meet the demands of massive random access required by machine-type communication devices in high-speed scenarios. This paper explores a massive random access scheme based on OTFS modulation within a cell-free architecture. A transceiver model for uplink OTFS signals involving multiple access points (APs) is developed, where channel estimation with fractional channel parameters is approximated as a block sparse matrix recovery problem. Building on existing superimposed and embedded preamble schemes, a hybrid preamble scheme is proposed. This scheme leverages superimposed and embedded preambles to respectively achieve rough and accurate active user equipment (UEs) detection (AUD), as well as precise channel estimation, under the condition of supporting a large number of access UEs. Moreover, this study introduces a generalized approximate message passing and pattern coupling sparse Bayesian learning with Laplacian prior (GAMP-PCSBL-La) algorithm, which effectively captures block sparse features after discrete cosine transform (DCT), delivering precise estimation results with reduced computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is effective and provides superior performance compared to other existing schemes.

eess.SP↗

GLDPC-PC Codes: Channel Coding Towards 6G Communications

The sixth generation (6G) wireless communication system will improve the key technical indicators by one to two orders of magnitude, and come with some new features. As a crucial technique to enhance the reliability and efficiency of data transmission, the next-generation channel coding is thus confronted with new challenges in terms of complexity, latency, performance. This article supplies an overview of the potential channel codes for 6G communications. In addition, we explore to develop next-generation channel codes based on lowdensity parity-check (LDPC) and polar frameworks, introducing a concept named generalized LDPC with polar-like component(GLDPC-PC) codes. The codes have exhibited promising error correction performance and manageable complexity, which can be further optimized by specific code design. The opportunities and challenges of GLDPC-PC codes are also discussed.

cs.IT↗

Explicit Performance Bound of Finite Blocklength Coded MIMO: Time-Domain versus Spatiotemporal Channel Coding

In the sixth generation (6G), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) will be further developed to achieve TKu extreme connectivity. On the premise of ensuring the same rate and reliability, the spatial domain advantage of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) has the potential to further shorten the time-domain code length and is expected to be a key enabler for the realization of TKu. Different coded MIMO schemes exhibit disparities in exploiting the spatial domain characteristics, so we consider two extreme MIMO coding schemes, namely, time-domain coding in which the codewords on multiple spatial channels are independent of each other, and spatiotemporal coding in which multiple spatial channels are jointly coded. By analyzing the statistical characteristics of information density and utilizing the normal approximation, we provide explicit performance bounds for finite blocklength coded MIMO under time-domain coding and spatiotemporal coding. It is found that, different from the phenomenon in time-domain coding where the performance declines as the blocklengths decrease, spatiotemporal coding can effectively compensate for the performance loss caused by short blocklengths by improving the spatial degrees of freedom (DoF). These results indicate that spatiotemporal coding can optimally exploit the spatial dimension advantages of MIMO systems, enabling extremely low error-rate communication under stringent blocklengths constraint.

cs.IT↗

Provable Performance Bounds for Digital Twin-driven Deep Reinforcement Learning in Wireless Networks: A Novel Digital-Twin Bisimulation Metric

Digital twin (DT)-driven deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has emerged as a promising paradigm for wireless network optimization, offering safe and efficient training environment for policy exploration. However, in theory existing methods cannot always guarantee real-world performance of DT-trained policies before actual deployment, due to the absence of a universal metric for assessing DT's ability to support reliable DRL training transferrable to physical networks. In this paper, we propose the DT bisimulation metric (DT-BSM), a novel metric based on the Wasserstein distance, to quantify the discrepancy between Markov decision processes (MDPs) in both the DT and the corresponding real-world wireless network environment. We prove that for any DT-trained policy, the sub-optimality of its performance (regret) in the real-world deployment is bounded by a weighted sum of the DT-BSM and its sub-optimality within the MDP in the DT. Then, a modified DT-BSM based on the total variation distance is also introduced to avoid the prohibitive calculation complexity of Wasserstein distance for large-scale wireless network scenarios. Further, to tackle the challenge of obtaining accurate transition probabilities of the MDP in real world for the DT-BSM calculation, we propose an empirical DT-BSM method based on statistical sampling. We prove that the empirical DT-BSM always converges to the desired theoretical one, and quantitatively establish the relationship between the required sample size and the target level of approximation accuracy. Numerical experiments validate this first theoretical finding on the provable and calculable performance bounds for DT-driven DRL.

cs.LG↗

Overview of AI and Communication for 6G Network: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Future Research Opportunities

With the growing demand for seamless connectivity and intelligent communication, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and sixth-generation (6G) communication networks has emerged as a transformative paradigm. By embedding AI capabilities across various network layers, this integration enables optimized resource allocation, improved efficiency, and enhanced system robust performance, particularly in intricate and dynamic environments. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of AI and communication for 6G networks, with a focus on emphasizing their foundational principles, inherent challenges, and future research opportunities. We first review the integration of AI and communications in the context of 6G, exploring the driving factors behind incorporating AI into wireless communications, as well as the vision for the convergence of AI and 6G. The discourse then transitions to a detailed exposition of the envisioned integration of AI within 6G networks, delineated across three progressive developmental stages. The first stage, AI for Network, focuses on employing AI to augment network performance, optimize efficiency, and enhance user service experiences. The second stage, Network for AI, highlights the role of the network in facilitating and buttressing AI operations and presents key enabling technologies, such as digital twins for AI and semantic communication. In the final stage, AI as a Service, it is anticipated that future 6G networks will innately provide AI functions as services, supporting application scenarios like immersive communication and intelligent industrial robots. In addition, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the critical challenges faced by the integration of AI and communications in 6G. Finally, we outline promising future research opportunities that are expected to drive the development and refinement of AI and 6G communications.

cs.NI↗

Novel Synchronization Scheme for Cooperative ISAC Systems

Carrier frequency and timing synchronization play the fundamental roles in cooperative integrating communication and sensing (ISAC). To mitigate the effects of synchronization error, this paper develops a novel synchronization scheme in cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) systems. First, we characterize the impacts of pilot contamination on synchronization performance, i.e., Cramer-Rao bound (CRB). Furthermore, a maximum likelihood algorithm is presented to estimate the CFO and TO among the pairing APs. Then, to minimize the sum of CRBs, we devise a synchronization strategy based on a pilot-sharing scheme by jointly optimizing the cluster classification, synchronization overhead, and pilot-sharing scheme, while simultaneously considering the overhead and each AP's synchronization requirements. To solve this NP-hard problem, we simplify it into two sub-problems, namely cluster classification problem and the pilot sharing problem. To strike a balance between synchronization performance and overhead, we first classify the clusters by using the K-means algorithm, and propose a criteria to find a good set of master APs. Then, the pilot-sharing scheme is obtained by using the swap-matching operations. Simulation results validate the accuracy of our derivations and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme over the benchmark schemes.

eess.SP↗

Combating Interference for Over-the-Air Federated Learning: A Statistical Approach via RIS

Over-the-air computation (AirComp) integrates analog communication with task-oriented computation, serving as a key enabling technique for communication-efficient federated learning (FL) over wireless networks. However, owing to its analog characteristics, AirComp-enabled FL (AirFL) is vulnerable to both unintentional and intentional interference. In this paper, we aim to attain robustness in AirComp aggregation against interference via reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) technology to artificially reconstruct wireless environments. Concretely, we establish performance objectives tailored for interference suppression in wireless FL systems, aiming to achieve unbiased gradient estimation and reduce its mean square error (MSE). Oriented at these objectives, we introduce the concept of phase-manipulated favorable propagation and channel hardening for AirFL, which relies on the adjustment of RIS phase shifts to realize statistical interference elimination and reduce the error variance of gradient estimation. Building upon this concept, we propose two robust aggregation schemes of power control and RIS phase shifts design, both ensuring unbiased gradient estimation in the presence of interference. Theoretical analysis of the MSE and FL convergence affirms the anti-interference capability of the proposed schemes. It is observed that computation and interference errors diminish by an order of $\mathcal{O}\left(\frac{1}{N}\right)$ where $N$ is the number of RIS elements, and the ideal convergence rate without interference can be asymptotically achieved by increasing $N$. Numerical results confirm the analytical results and validate the superior performance of the proposed schemes over existing baselines.

cs.IT↗