Part I. Principles of General Algorithms in Physical Layer

Lecture 1: Principles of Wireless Channel and Signal Modulation

Topics cover: multipath fading, Doppler effect, OFDM principles, inter-symbol interference, inter-carrier interference, three principles of the OFDM signal modulation design, LTE and Wi-Fi signal modulation with three design principles

Lecture 2: Principles of Algorithms in General MIMO-OFDM Systems

Topics cover: double-directional channel, antenna correlation, MIMO-OFDM transceiver structure, the channel estimation algorithm, the pilot design principle, noise variance estimation, MIMO channel decomposition by SVD, MIMO capacity, capacity-achieving MIMO power allocation

Lecture 3: Principles of MIMO Signal Detection Algorithms

Topics cover: signal detection algorithm, linear signal detection, zero-forcing signal detector, MMSE signal detector, nonlinear interference cancellation based signal detection, space-time coding, diversity gain and multiplexing gain

Lecture 4: Principles of Massive MIMO Algorithms

Topics cover: massive MIMO systems, massive MIMO channel hardening properties, massive MIMO channel capacity, massive MIMO pilot design, massive MIMO channel estimation, massive MIMO signal detection, multi-user MIMO

Part II. Principles of Physical-Layer in Cellular Systems

Lecture 5: Receiver Algorithms in Physical Uplink Shared Channel

Topics cover: PUSCH receiver structure, channel estimation algorithm based on DM-RS in PUSCH, multi-user MIMO signal detection in PUSCH, The timing advance estimation based on DM-RS, phase noise estimation based on PT-RS, noise variance estimation based on DM-RS in PUSCH

Lecture 6: Receiver Algorithms in Sounding Reference Signal

Topics cover: zero correlation property of ZC sequence, the ZC sequence generation in DM-RS and SRS, the channel estimation of multiple users based on ZC sequence, the SRS channel estimation algorithm procedure

Lecture 7: MIMO Precoding Algorithms in Multi-cell Downlink

Topics cover: multi-cell interference, block diagonalization based MIMO precoding, number of supported co-channel users and signaling overhead, the cell-specific spreading method to improve the multi-cell interference, the increment of the number of supported co-channel users

Lecture 8: Principles of Dynamic Range and Signal Power Analysis

Topics cover: analog front-end of wireless systems, large-scale path loss effect, dynamic range analysis, receiver RF power analysis, receiver noise analysis, the fixed-point representation of digital signals

Lecture 9: MIMO Algorithm Designs in 5G PHY

Topics cover: 5G SRS massive MIMO channel estimation, 5G PUSCH channel estimation by DM-RS, 5G PDSCH subband precoding by SVD, 5G PDSCH massive MIMO, 5G mixed numerology interference, 5G CDL propagation channel model

Lecture 10: Receiver Algorithms in Cell Search

Topics cover: 5G PSS search and frequency offset synchronization, 5G SSS search and PBCH DM-RS search, channel estimation by PBCH DM-RS and SSS, BCH decoding, MIB and BCH parsing, demodulation of PDCCH, DCI decoding, demodulation of PDSCH, DL-SCH and SIB1 decoding

Part III. Principles of PHY, MAC and Radio-Interface in Wireless Systems

Lecture 11: Frame Structures and Multiple Access Methods

Topics cover: the comparison of cellular and WiFi frame structures, the preamble and pilot design for synchronization and channel estuation in cellular and WiFi, subcarrier time-frequency resource allocation, MIMO design in frame structure, the multiple access methods in cellular and WiFi, uplink and downlink multi-user MIMO in WiFi 

Lecture 12: Principles of Time and Frequency Synchronization

Topics cover: timing offset estimation algorithms, coarse timing and fine timing, frequency offset estimation algorithms, timing window in OFDM, phase noise estimation algorithms, Wi-Fi preamble structure, timing and frequency synchronization in Wi-Fi, CSMA/CA, Wi-Fi hidden terminal

Lecture 13: Principles of Channel Coding and Retransmission

Topics cover: 5G DL-SCH transport channel coding, linear channel code, convolutional code, Turbo code, LDPC code, ARQ, Hybrid ARQ, rate matching, scrambling, interleaving, physical layer transport-channel processing techniques in LTE and 5G

Lecture 14: Principles of Rate Adaptation Algorithms

Topics cover: CSI reporting and SRS based CSI estimation, MCS rate adaptation principles, the MCS PHY throughput curves, the MCS table based rate adaptation method, the maximum PHY throughput based algorithm, the equivalent metric based rate adaptation, the maximum entropy based rate adaptation

Lecture 15: Principles of MAC Scheduling Algorithms

Topics cover: Proportional fair algorithm, modified proportional fair, priority scheduling with latency QoS, weighted fair queuing, maximum rate guarantee scheduling, early deadline first scheduling, context-aware scheduling, largest weighted delay first scheduling, machine learning based resource scheduling

Lecture 16: Principles of Radio Interface Architecture

Topics cover: Radio protocol architecture, 5G user-plane protocols, 5G control-plane protocols, QoS management, radio-link control, Packet-Data Convergence Protocol, Service Data Adaptation Protocol, 5G core network software modules

Study Program on Recent Technologies and Standards

The course program has an optional part of recent technologies, standards, and 6G. Students are encouraged but not required to participate in this study. 

Topic 1: Wireless Radio Sensing Technologies

Topics include: channel State Information (CSI) based radio sensing, integrated sensing and communications, Radar sensing, localizations of vehicles and aerial objects, pilot and waveform designs in CSI, wireless sensing in 5G and WiFi

Topic 2: Wireless Optical Communication Technologies
 Topics include: wireless optical propagation channel properties, optical signal modulation schemes, optical analog front-end, optical signal detection, optical signal waveform generation, optical signal waveform parameter design
  

Topic 3: Introduction to 5G and 6G Standard Development

Topics include:  5G O-RAN architecture, 5G C-V2X and Sidelink development, the Non-Terrestrial Networks in 5G standard development, the machine learning techniques in 5G development, the 6G standardization

Topic 4: Introduction to WLAN and LPWAN Standard Development

Topics include: IEEE 802.11 series standard development, WiFi 6/WiFi 7 enhancements, WiFi triggered uplink access, multi-link operation, LoRaWAN standard development, NB-IoT and LTE-M standard development

Study Program on 6G technologies include the following areas:

Area 1: 6G Spectrum and Related Technologies

The 6G spectrum topic covers the following:

1) The wireless radio propagation characteristics of 6G radio spectrum, including Mid-band, mmWave and possible sub-Terahertz spectrum bands

2) The spectrum sharing techniques with existing technologies including LTE, 5G (FR1 and FR2 bands) and Wi-Fi

Area 2: 6G Technology Algorithm Design and Development

The 6G technology algorithm design and development cover the following:

1) Spatial modulation and multiplexing algorithms in massive MIMO systems

2) PHY transmitter waveform to enhance the coverage with multiple spectrum bands

3) Machine learning in PHY rate adaptation and signal waveform identification

4) Energy-efficient cloud virtualization of PHY signal processing blocks

5) MAC layer resource scheduling algorithms based on QoS requirements

Area 3: 6G Industrial Applications and Technologies

This area is more on cross-field innovations in multiple industries. The topics cover the following industrial areas: 

1) Energy-efficient wireless network in smart city infrastructure

2) Mission-critical communication network in smart grid application

3) Vehicle communications in transportation and government applications

4) Robotics automation in manufacturing and science applications

5) Waveform designs in air and space communication networks