Keynotes

Marco di Renzo

Title: System-Level Modeling and Optimization of the Energy Efficiency in Cellular Networks – A Stochastic Geometry Framework

Bio:

Marco Di Renzo (S’05-AM’07-M’09-SM’14) was born in L’Aquila, Italy, in 1978. He received the Laurea (cum laude) and the Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of L’Aquila, Italy, in 2003 and in 2007, respectively, and the Doctor of Science degree (HDR) from University Paris-Sud, France, in 2013. Since 2010, he has been a CNRS Associate Professor (“Chargé de Recherche Titulaire CNRS”) in the Laboratory of Signals and Systems of Paris-Saclay University — CNRS, CentraleSupélec, Univ Paris Sud, Paris, France. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, a Visiting Professor at the University of L’Aquila, Italy, and a Co-Founder of the university spin-off company WEST Aquila s.r.l., Italy. He serves as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE COMMUNICATIONS LETTERS, and as an Editor of IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS, and IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS. He is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society and IEEE Communications Society. He is the Project Coordinator of the European-funded projects H2020-MSCA ETN-5Gwireless and H2020-MSCA ETN-5Gaura. He is a recipient of several awards, including the 2013 IEEE-COMSOC Best Young Researcher Award for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA Region), the 2013 NoE-NEWCOM\# Best Paper Award, the 2014-2015 Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visiting Fellowship, the 2015 IEEE Jack Neubauer Memorial Best System Paper Award, the 2015-2018 CNRS Award for Excellence in Research and in Advising Doctoral Students, and the 2017 SEE-IEEE Alain Glavieux Award.

Abstract:

In this talk, we analyze and optimize the energy efficiency of downlink cellular networks. With the aid of tools from stochastic geometry, we introduce a new closed-form analytical expression of the potential spectral efficiency (bit/sec/m$^2$). In the interference-limited regime for data transmission, unlike currently available mathematical frameworks, the proposed analytical formulation depends on the transmit power and deployment density of the base stations. This is obtained by generalizing the definition of coverage probability and by accounting for the sensitivity of the receiver not only during the decoding of information data, but during the cell association phase as well. Based on the new formulation of the potential spectral efficiency, the energy efficiency (bit/Joule) is given in a tractable closed-form formula. An optimization problem is formulated and is comprehensively studied. It is mathematically proved, in particular, that the energy efficiency is a unimodal and strictly pseudo-concave function in the transmit power, given the density of the base stations, and in the density of the base stations, given the transmit power. Under these assumptions, therefore, a unique transmit power and density of the base stations exist, which maximize the energy efficiency. Numerical results are illustrated in order to confirm the obtained findings and to prove the usefulness of the proposed framework for optimizing the network planning and deployment of cellular networks from the energy efficiency standpoint.

 

  Muhammad Ali Imran

Title: Enabling and testing new applications for 5G networks

Abstract:

5G Communication Systems will have challenging requirements for data rates, energy efficiency and the end-to-end latency of the system. To design a system that meets all these challenges, several advanced signal processing techniques have been proposed that have implications on the backhaul as well as the fronthaul (for distributed antenna arrays). This talk will focus on several new applications that require the systems to be upgraded from 4G to 5G. The talk will look at the specific technological enabler and identify the current state of the art systems. Technical solutions and approaches for enabling these services will be discussed. Some recent results will also be presented.

Bio:

Professor Muhammad Ali Imran (M’03, SM’12) received his M.Sc. (Distinction) and Ph.D. degrees from Imperial College London, UK, in 2002 and 2007, respectively. He is a Professor in Communication Systems in University of Glasgow, Vice Dean of Glasgow College UESTC and Program Director of Electrical and Electronics with Communications. He is an Affiliate Professor at the University of Oklahoma, USA and a visiting Professor at 5G Innovation centre, University of Surrey, UK, where he has worked previously from June 2007 to Aug 2016.

He has led a number of multimillion-funded international research projects encompassing the areas of energy efficiency, fundamental performance limits, sensor networks and self-organising cellular networks. In addition to significant funding from EPSRC, RCUK, Qatar NRF, EU FP7/H2020, he has received direct industrial funding from leading industries in Communications: Huawei, Sony, IBM, DSTL, British Telecom, He also lead the new physical layer work area for 5G innovation centre at Surrey. He has a global collaborative research network spanning both academia and key industrial players in the field of wireless communications. He has supervised 30+ successful PhD graduates and published over 300 peer-reviewed research papers.  He secured first rank in his B.Sc. and a distinction in his M.Sc. degree along with an award of excellence in recognition of his academic achievements conferred by the President of Pakistan. He has been awarded IEEE Comsoc’s Fred Ellersick award 2014, Sentinel of Science Award 2016, FEPS Learning and Teaching award 2014 and twice nominated for Tony Jean’s Inspirational Teaching award. He is a shortlisted finalist for The Wharton-QS Stars Awards 2014, Reimagine Education Awards 2016 for innovative teaching and VC’s learning and teaching award in University of Surrey. He is a senior member of IEEE and a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), UK.

He has given an invited TEDx talk (2015) and more than 10 plenary talks, several tutorials and seminars in international conferences and other institutions. He has taught on international short courses in USA and China. He is the co-founder of IEEE Workshop BackNets 2015 and chaired several tracks/workshops of international conferences. He is an associate Editor for IEEE Communications Letters, IEEE Open Access and IET Communications Journals.