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Intelligent Reflection as a Service (IRaaS): System Architecture, Enabling Technologies, and Deployment Strategy

Wei Wang, Yutian Shen

Abstract

Reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) is a promising technology for 6G mobile communications. However, identifying the niche of RIS within the mobile networks is a challenging task. To mitigate the escalating system complexity of mobile networks, we propose the concept of Intelligent Reflection as a Service (IRaaS), and discuss its system architecture, enabling technologies, and deployment strategy, respectively. By leveraging technologies such as resource pooling, service based architecture (SBA), cloud infrastructure, and model-free signal processing, IRaaS empowers telecom operators to deliver on-demand intelligent reflection services without a radical update of current communication protocols. In addition, IRaaS brings a novel deployment strategy that creates new opportunities for the vendors of intelligent reflection service and balances the interests of both telecom operators and property owners. IRaaS is expected to speed up the rollout of RIS from both technical perspective and commercial perspective, fostering an authentic smart radio environment for future mobile communications.

Intelligent Reflection as a Service (IRaaS): System Architecture, Enabling Technologies, and Deployment Strategy

Abstract

Reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) is a promising technology for 6G mobile communications. However, identifying the niche of RIS within the mobile networks is a challenging task. To mitigate the escalating system complexity of mobile networks, we propose the concept of Intelligent Reflection as a Service (IRaaS), and discuss its system architecture, enabling technologies, and deployment strategy, respectively. By leveraging technologies such as resource pooling, service based architecture (SBA), cloud infrastructure, and model-free signal processing, IRaaS empowers telecom operators to deliver on-demand intelligent reflection services without a radical update of current communication protocols. In addition, IRaaS brings a novel deployment strategy that creates new opportunities for the vendors of intelligent reflection service and balances the interests of both telecom operators and property owners. IRaaS is expected to speed up the rollout of RIS from both technical perspective and commercial perspective, fostering an authentic smart radio environment for future mobile communications.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 24 sections, 5 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. The Status Quo of RIS Configurations
  3. Model-based RIS configurations
  4. Model-free RIS Configurations
  5. The Architecture of IRaaS
  6. Design Philosophies
  7. The Architecture of 5G NR with IRaaS
  8. 5GC SBA
  9. New Entities and Interfaces of IRaaS
  10. The Workflow of IRaaS
  11. The Enabling Technologies of IRaaS
  12. RIS Resource Pooling
  13. Cloud Processing
  14. Model-Free Signal Processing
  15. On-Demand Intelligent Reflection Service Enabled by SBA
  16. ...and 9 more sections

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: The architecture of 5G mobile network with IRaaS, where RCF and RISP are newly defined entities, and ln1 and ln2 are newly defined interface.
  • Figure 2: The sequence diagram of IRaaS
  • Figure 3: The enabling technologies of IRaaS and the logical relationship between RAN, UE and RIS
  • Figure 4: The three-party business model of IRaaS
  • Figure 5: Communication performance under different configurations of RIS, where UE 1 and UE 3 subscribe to the service of intelligent reflection, while UE 2 and UE 4 do not.