Evolving Sequences for Beyond-5G Machine-Type Communications (SORT)

Sequences with certain structural properties lie at the very heart of every communication/radar system design. For example, by sending a good signature sequence which is known to both transmitter and receiver, one is able to estimate the complex wireless channels, measure the surrounding environment, find the starting point of the delayed packets, and recover the data symbols from noise and interference. On the other hand, legacy sequence theory is drastically challenged by the ever-growing requirements of the modern machine-type communication systems. With tens of billions of communication devices, sensors, tablets, vehicles, and robots getting connected wirelessly, it is urgent to develop new sequences and their associated processing algorithms in order to enhance a number of key performance indicators, such as unprecedented system robustness, reduced communication latency, faster data rates, higher energy efficiency, and improved sensing capabilities.

The mission of the SORT project is thus for a fundamental rethinking, repurposing, and redesign of sequences to deliver "truly anytime and anywhere" machine-type communication services. Specifically, we target a dedicated sequence framework to enable 1) massive connectivity where every user can transmit immediately after the packet arrival; 2) ultra-reliable & low-latency communication for mission-critical data services and 3) integrated sensing and communication to attain enhanced environmental awareness. With the aid of advanced algebraic and optimization tools, we will design, analyse, and evaluate several new types of sequences whose structural properties are optimized with respect to the aforementioned application scenarios. For practicality-oriented research outcomes, proof-of-concept hardware prototyping will be carried out to examine the effectiveness of our new sequences and the resultant machine-type communication solutions.

As an international collaboration project, SORT will work with three world-leading researchers and their groups from Southwest Jiaotong University, Nanyang Technological University, and University of Bergen, as well as Samsung Cambridge in telecommunication. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project, the complementary skills of the team members, as well as our novel sequence angle, ground-breaking research outcomes of SORT are anticipated. These will in turn influence the evolution of future mobile systems, accelerate the technology commercialization, create more high-salary jobs, and ultimately reinforce the UK's role as a global leader, academically and economically.