Intelligent Reflecting Surface Assisted Beam Index-Modulation for Millimeter Wave Communication

Millimeter wave communication is eminently suitable for high-rate wireless systems, which may be beneficially amalgamated with intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), while relying on beam-index modulation. Explicitly, we propose three different architectures based on IRSs for beam-index modulation in millimeter wave communication. Our schemes are capable of eliminating the detrimental line-of-sight blockage of millimeter wave frequencies.The schemes are termed as single-symbol beam index modulation, multi-symbol beam-index modulation and maximum-SNR single-symbol beam index modulation. The principle behind these is to embed the information both in classic QAM/PSK symbols and in the transmitter beam-pattern. Explicitly, we proposed to use a twin-IRS structure to construct a low-cost beam-index modulation scheme. We conceive both the optimal maximum likelihood detector and a low-complexity compressed sensing detector for the proposed schemes. Finally, the schemes designed are evaluated through extensive simulations and the results are compared to our analytical bounds.

Automated summary

Millimeter wave communication can be effectively combined with intelligent reflecting surfaces and beam-index modulation to eliminate line-of-sight blockage at millimeter wave frequencies. Three different architectures based on IRS are proposed for beam-index modulation in millimeter wave communication. The schemes include single-symbol, multi-symbol, and maximum-SNR beam index modulation, as well as a low-cost twin-IRS structure. Optimal maximum likelihood detector and low-complexity compressed sensing detector are designed for the proposed schemes. Evaluation of the schemes through extensive simulations and comparison with analytical bounds are conducted.