Event-Based Framework for Agile Resilience in Criticality-Aware Wireless Networks

TL;DR

The paper tackles resilient uplink communication under dynamic LoS blockages for mixed-criticality data by proposing an event-driven, three-stage resilience framework. It couples a novel MC-RSMA scheme (Stage 1) with one-sided AP cooperation (Stage 2) and full AP cooperation with centralized decoding (Stage 3), coordinated by an event-based controller. Cross-layer design models two queues per user (HC and LC) and derives power-allocation strategies to stabilize queues under heterogeneous QoS, using mean-service constraints and convex approximations. Simulations show that MC-RSMA provides blockage-robust efficiency, one-sided cooperation improves LC performance during short outages, and centralized decoding with adaptive power reallocation is essential for long-lasting blockages, all while balancing operational costs across stages.

Abstract

As mission- and safety-critical wireless applications grow in complexity and diversity, next-generation wireless systems must meet increasingly stringent and multifaceted requirements. These systems demand resilience along with enhanced intelligence and adaptability to ensure reliable communication under diverse conditions. This paper proposes an event-based multi-stage resilience framework for systematically integrating complementary error mitigation techniques in wireless networks. The framework is applied to uplink transmission of mixedcriticality data under random link blockages. A key component is a novel mixed-criticality rate-splitting multiple access (MC-RSMA) scheme that combines multi- and single-connectivity to balance rate and blockage robustness. MC-RSMA is complemented by one-sided access point cooperation and central decoding, which are integrated into an event-driven algorithm. Here, increasingly effective but more complex mechanisms are activated sequentially to systematically counteract blockages while balancing resilience with cost. From a cross-layer perspective, two transmit power allocation problems are formulated: One for separate decoding and one for central decoding, to ensure fair queue utilization under heterogeneous quality-of-service requirements. Extensive simulations are used to evaluate the delay performance under varying blockage durations and examine the cost tradeoffs among resilience mechanisms within the proposed framework. Results show that the proposed framework achieves resilience across disruption regimes: MC-RSMA balances efficiency and robustness as a criticality-aware core scheme, active robustness strategies handle frequent short-term fluctuations, and adaptive recovery ensures performance during rare, prolonged blockages.

Figures (9)

• Figure 1: Conceptual illustration of the contribution compared to common approaches. Single-connectivity offers low resilience, while permanently redundant schemes such as full multi-connectivity incur high operational costs. Adaptation-based mechanisms, e.g., handovers, are limited by delay. The proposed event-driven, criticality-aware hybrid scheme achieves a more efficient balance between resilience and cost.
• Figure 2: System model comprising $N$ UEs with mixed-criticality data queues and two APs.
• Figure 3: Resilience framework implemented on management and control plane. The plot illustrates the multi-stage strategy comprising different schemes with increasing complexity and error mitigation efficacy. As the impact of the error increases, switching to the next stage reduces the resulting performance degradation.
• Figure 4: Event-triggered multi-stage resilience scheme
• Figure 5: Decoding strategies of the schemes applied in each of the three proposed stages, where the permutation $\pi_j$ indicates the decoding order at AP $j$.