Toward 6G TK$μ$ Extreme Connectivity: Architecture, Key Technologies and Experiments

Abstract

networks are evolving towards new features and order-of-magnitude enhancement of systematic performance metrics compared to the current 5G. In particular, the 6G networks are expected to achieve extreme connectivity performance with Tbps-scale data rate, Kbps/Hzscale spectral efficiency, and µs-scale latency. To this end, an original three-layer 6G network architecture is designed to realise uniform full-spectrum cell-free radio access and provide taskcentric agile proximate support for diverse applications. The designed architecture is featured by super edge node (SEN) which integrates connectivity, computing, AI, data, etc. On this basis, a technological framework of pervasive multi-level (PML) AI is established in the centralised unit to enable task-centric near-real-time resource allocation and network automation. We then introduce a radio access network (RAN) architecture of full spectrum uniform cell-free networks, which is among the most attractive RAN candidates for 6G TKµ extreme connectivity. A few most promising key technologies, i.e., cell-free massive MIMO, photonics-assisted Terahertz wireless access and spatiotemporal two-dimensional channel coding are further discussed. A testbed is implemented and extensive trials are conducted to evaluate innovative technologies and methodologies. The proposed 6G network architecture and technological framework demonstrate exciting potentials for full-service and full-scenario applications.

A State-of-the-Art Review of Task Scheduling for Edge Computing: A Delay-Sensitive Application Perspective

“…The 6G deployment requirements are 1Tbps data rate, 1Kbps/Hz spectral efficiency, and latency of approximately µ-seconds; these specifications can be referred to as 6G TKµ. In [51], a novel task-centric three-layer decentralized model architecture is proposed for 6G, incorporating a super edge node. This architecture is designed to support various services and applications.…”