2024/08/15 by Wei Jiang, Hans D. Schotten, Jiang, Wei +1
Engineering · #Advanced MIMO Systems Optimization #Antenna Design and Analysis #Antenna Design and Optimization #FOS: Computer and information sciences #FOS: Electrical engineering #Information Theory (cs.IT) #Signal Processing (eess.SP) #electronic engineering #information engineering
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2408.08132
openalex publication_date 2024/08/15 · openalex created_date 2025/01/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Cell-free massive multi-input multi-output (CFmMIMO) offers uniform service quality through distributed access points (APs), yet unresolved issues remain. This paper proposes a heterogeneous system design that goes beyond the original CFmMIMO architecture by exploiting the synergy of a base station (BS) and distributed APs. Users are categorized as near users (NUs) and far users (FUs) depending on their proximity to the BS. The BS serves the NUs, while the APs cater to the FUs. Through activating only the closest AP of each FU, the use of downlink pilots is enabled, thereby enhancing performance. This heterogeneous design outperforms other homogeneous massive MIMO configurations, demonstrating superior sum capacity while maintaining comparable user-experienced rates. Moreover, it lowers the costs associated with AP installations and reduces signaling overhead for the fronthaul network.