• ETRI Journal
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.450-459
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• 2015

Small cell networks, as an important evolution path for next-generation cellular networks, have drawn much attention. Different from the traditional base stations (BSs) always-on model, we proposed a BSs on-off model, where a new, simple expression for the probabilities of active BSs in a heterogeneous network is derived. This model is more suitable for application in practical networks. Based on this, we develop an analytical framework for the performance evaluation of small cell networks, adopting stochastic geometry theory. We derive the system coverage probability; average energy efficiency (AEE) and average uplink power consumption (AUPC) for different association strategies; maximum biased received power (MaBRP); and minimum association distance (MiAD). It is analytically shown that MaBRP is beneficial for coverage but will have some loss in energy saving. On the contrary, MiAD is not advocated from the point of coverage but is more energy efficient. The simulation results show that the use of range expansion in MaBRP helps to save energy but that this is not so in MiAD. Furthermore, we can achieve an optimal AEE by establishing an appropriate density of small cells.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.877-887
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• 2015

This paper is a first-hand summary on our comprehensive live trial of cellular-assisted device-to-device (D2D) communications currently being ratified by the standards community for next-generation mobile broadband networks. In our test implementation, we employ a full-featured 3GPP LTE network deployment and augment it with all necessary support to provide realtime D2D connectivity over emerging Wi-Fi-Direct (WFD) technology. As a result, our LTE-assisted WFD D2D system enjoys the required flexibility while meeting the existing standards in every feasible detail. Further, this paper provides an account on the extensive measurement campaign conducted with our implementation. The resulting real-world measurements from this campaign quantify the numerical effects of D2D functionality on the resultant system performance. Consequently, they shed light on the general applicability of LTE-assisted WFD solutions and associated operational ranges.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.981-987
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• 2016

We present a cost-effective dual polarization quadrature phase-shift coherent receiver module using a silica planar lightwave circuit (PLC) hybrid assembly. Two polarization beam splitters and two $90^{\circ}$ optical hybrids are monolithically integrated in one silica PLC chip with an index contrast of $2%-{\Delta}$. Two four-channel spot-size converter integrated waveguide-photodetector (PD) arrays are bonded on PD carriers for transverse-electric/transverse-magnetic polarization, and butt-coupled to a polished facet of the PLC using a simple chip-to-chip bonding method. Instead of a ceramic sub-mount, a low-cost printed circuit board is applied in the module. A stepped CuW block is used to dissipate the heat generated from trans-impedance amplifiers and to vertically align RF transmission lines. The fabricated coherent receiver shows a 3-dB bandwidth of 26 GHz and a common mode rejection ratio of 16 dB at 22 GHz for a local oscillator optical input. A bit error rate of $8.3{\times}10^{-11}$ is achieved at a 112-Gbps back-to-back transmission with off-line digital signal processing.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.1019-1029
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• 2016

The probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter is an effective means to track multiple targets in that it avoids explicit data associations between the measurements and targets. However, the target birth intensity as a prior is assumed to be known before tracking in a traditional target-tracking algorithm; otherwise, the performance of a conventional PHD filter will decline sharply. Aiming at this problem, a novel target birth intensity scheme and an improved measurement-driven scheme are incorporated into the PHD filter. The target birth intensity estimation scheme, composed of both PHD pre-filter technology and a target velocity extent method, is introduced to recursively estimate the target birth intensity by using the latest measurements at each time step. Second, based on the improved measurement-driven scheme, the measurement set at each time step is divided into the survival target measurement set, birth target measurement set, and clutter set, and meanwhile, the survival and birth target measurement sets are used to update the survival and birth targets, respectively. Lastly, a Gaussian mixture implementation of the PHD filter is presented under a linear Gaussian model assumption. The results of numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve a better performance in tracking systems with an unknown newborn target intensity.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.10-25
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• 2018

The 5GCHAMPION Europe-Korea collaborative project provides the first fully-integrated and operational 5G prototype in 2018, in conjunction with the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. The corresponding technological advances comprise both an evolution and optimization of existing technological solutions and disruptive new features, which substantially outpace previous generations of technology. In this article, we focus on a subset of three disruptive technological solutions developed and experimented on by 5GCHAMPION during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games: high speed communications, direct satellite-user equipment communications, and post-sale evolution of wireless equipment through software reconfiguration. Evaluating effectiveness and performing trials for these key 5G features permit us to learn about the actual maturity of 5G technology prototyping and the potential of new 5G services for vertical markets and end user enhanced experience two years before the launch of large-scale 5G services.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2018

More people prefer using rail traffic for travel or for commuting owing to its convenience and flexibility. The railway scenario has become an important communication scenario in the fifth generation era. The communication system should be designed to support high-data-rate demands with seamless connectivity at a high mobility. In this paper, the channel characteristics are studied and modeled for the railway tunnel scenario with straight and curved route shapes. On the basis of measurements using the "Mobile Hotspot Network" system, a three-dimensional ray tracer (RT) is calibrated and validated for the target scenarios. More channel characteristics are explored via RT simulations at 25.25 GHz with a 500-MHz bandwidth. The key channel parameters are extracted, provided, and incorporated into a 3rd-Generation-Partnership-Project-like stochastic channel generator. The necessary channel information can be practically realized, which can support the link-level and system-level design of the communication system in similar scenarios.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.721-733
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• 2020

Recently, there is an increasing demand for ultra-low-latency (ULL) services such as factory automation, autonomous driving, and telesurgery that must meet an end-to-end latency of less than 10 ms. Fifth-generation (5G) New Radio guarantees 0.5 ms one-way latency, so the feasibility of ULL services is higher than in previous mobile communications. However, this feasibility ensures performance at the radio access network level and requires an innovative 5G network architecture for end-to-end ULL across the entire 5G system. Hence, we survey in detailed two the 3rd Generation Partnership Party (3GPP) standardization activities to ensure low latency at network level. 3GPP standardizes mobile edge computing (MEC), a low-latency solution at the edge network, in Release 15/16 and is standardizing time-sensitive communication in Release 16/17 for interworking 5G systems and IEEE 802.1 time-sensitive networking (TSN), a next-generation industry technology for ensuring low/deterministic latency. We developed a 5G system based on 3GPP Release 15 to support MEC with a potential sub-10 ms end-to-end latency in the edge network. In the near future, to provide ULL services in the external network of a 5G system, we suggest a 5G-IEEE TSN interworking system based on 3GPP Release 16/17 that meets an end-to-end latency of 2 ms.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.669-685
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• 2020

5G AgiLe and fLexible integration of SaTellite And cellulaR (5G-ALLSTAR) is a Korea-Europe (KR-EU) collaborative project for developing multi-connectivity (MC) technologies that integrate cellular and satellite networks to provide seamless, reliable, and ubiquitous broadband communication services and improve service continuity for 5G and beyond. The main scope of this project entails the prototype development of a millimeter-wave 5G New Radio (NR)-based cellular system, an investigation of the feasibility of an NR-based satellite system and its integration with cellular systems, and a study of spectrum sharing and interference management techniques for MC. This article reviews recent research activities and presents preliminary results and a plan for the proof of concept (PoC) of three representative use cases (UCs) and one joint KR-EU UC. The feasibility of each UC and superiority of the developed technologies will be validated with key performance indicators using corresponding PoC platforms. The final achievements of the project are expected to eventually contribute to the technical evolution of 5G, which will pave the road for next-generation communications.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.643-657
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• 2020

Sixth generation will exploit satellite, aerial, and terrestrial platforms jointly to improve radio access capability and unlock the support of on-demand edge cloud services in three-dimensional (3D) space, by incorporating mobile edge computing (MEC) functionalities on aerial platforms and low-orbit satellites. This will extend the MEC support to devices and network elements in the sky and forge a space-borne MEC, enabling intelligent, personalized, and distributed on-demand services. End users will experience the impression of being surrounded by a distributed computer, fulfilling their requests with apparently zero latency. In this paper, we consider an architecture that provides communication, computation, and caching (C3) services on demand, anytime, and everywhere in 3D space, integrating conventional ground (terrestrial) base stations and flying (non-terrestrial) nodes. Given the complexity of the overall network, the C3 resources and management of aerial devices need to be jointly orchestrated via artificial intelligence-based algorithms, exploiting virtualized network functions dynamically deployed in a distributed manner across terrestrial and non-terrestrial nodes.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.781-789
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• 2020

In this study, an E-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) has been designed using silicon-germanium 130-nm bipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology to suppress unwanted signal gain outside operating frequencies and improve the signal gain and noise figures at operating frequencies. The proposed impedance-controllable filter has series (R_s) and parallel (R_p) resistors instead of a conventional inductor-capacitor (L-C) filter without any resistor in an interstage matching circuit. Using the impedance-controllable filter instead of the conventional L-C filter, the unwanted high signal gains of the designed E-band LNA at frequencies of 54 GHz to 57 GHz are suppressed by 8 dB to 12 dB from 24 dB to 26 dB to 12 dB to 18 dB. The small-signal gain S₂₁ at the operating frequencies of 70 GHz to 95 GHz are only decreased by 1.4 dB to 2.4 dB from 21.6 dB to 25.4 dB to 19.2 dB to 24.0 dB. The fabricated E-band LNA MMIC with the proposed filter has a measured S₂₁ of 16 dB to 21 dB, input matching (S₁₁) of -14 dB to -5 dB, and output matching (S₂₂) of -19 dB to -4 dB at E-band operating frequencies of 70 GHz to 95 GHz.