a Framework for goal-Oriented Characterization of real-time reqUirementS in 6G networks: Driving convergence of the physical and digital worlds (FOCUS-6G)

Descrizione del progetto

Consentire la connettività in tempo reale per il 6G

L’ascesa del 6G richiederà reti altamente affidabili in grado di consentire interazioni in tempo reale attraverso la perfetta convergenza del mondo fisico e digitale. Tuttavia, le attuali architetture di rete faticano a soddisfare le diverse esigenze di temporizzazione senza un eccessivo consumo di risorse. Sostenuto dal programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto FOCUS-6G intende adattare i requisiti in tempo reale alle applicazioni specifiche piuttosto che imporre rigidi vincoli di latenza. Il progetto integrerà anche elementi di elaborazione e calcolo nel suo quadro olistico di temporizzazione. FOCUS-6G implementerà protocolli di accesso senza concessione, consentendo la comunicazione istantanea dei dispositivi e sfruttando l’accesso multiplo rate-splitting per mitigare le interferenze. Ottimizzando congiuntamente la tempistica e l’allocazione delle risorse, il progetto aprirà la strada a reti 6G percettive e senza soluzione di continuità, inaugurando una nuova era di connettività in tempo reale.

Obiettivo

FOCUS-6G’s objective is to power real-time applications in 6G by effectively driving the convergence of the physical and the digital world and thus enabling seamless real-time interactions. To this end, this project aims to develop a framework for goal-oriented characterization of real-time requirements and leverage it for designing optimal real-time transmission strategies, thereby making the network perceptive in nature. Pertinently, the project will effectuate a paradigm shift in how we approach and overcome the challenges of two critical aspects of the envisioned perceptive network: responsiveness of the network and the reliability of communication between its constituent elements. With repsect to responsiveness, moving beyond the current state-of-the-art, firstly, instead of assuming resource intensive ultra-stringent latency targets as the timing requirement; which will be ineffective for 6G applications; this project will parameterize real-time requirements based on the specific goals of the application. Secondly, the project will incorporate timing elements associated with processing and computation operations, providing a comprehensive view of timing needs. Finally, the project will develop a framework to determine the temporal ordering (simultaneity and causality) of events reported by multiple devices, which will be crucial for ensuring network’s perceptivity and responsiveness. On the reliability front, firstly, the project will employ grant-free access protocols, allowing devices to transmit instantaneously. To manage the interference inherent in grant-free methods, rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) mechanism will be innovatively leveraged to deal with the interference between multiple devices, and imperatively, between digital and sensing data. Subsequently, joint optimization of the timing requirement and resource allocation will be pursued to devise real-time transmission strategies to effectuate real-time interactions for 6G applications.