Realizing High Power Full Duplex in Millimeter Wave System: Design, Prototype and Results

Full duplex (FD) communication is considered as a promising technology in the development of 5G-advanced and 6G systems as it theoretically doubles the capability of channel. However, this improvement relying on a simultaneously bidirectional manner of communication induces intrinsic self-interference (SI) demanding to be fully cancelled, which is generally intractable. This challenge is minimized in the scenario of integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks operated in millimeter wave (mmW) band, as its transceivers are stationary and the complexity of SI is greatly reduced by beamforming technique. As a matter of fact, FD can be a pioneering technique to unlock the full potential mmW-based IAB network by releasing its suffering of the half-duplex inefficiency. This article presents the design principle and validation of a practical SI cancellation (SIC) technique in the case of high transmission power class in mmW-based IAB networks. The proposed technique sequentially eliminates SI from the spatial, RF, and digital domains that reduces the SI down to the noise floor. To validate the technique, a prototype system is developed in accordance with 5G IAB specifications and field tests are conducted. Results suggest that the designed mmW SIC transceiver significantly reduces residual-interference to noise ratio (R-INR) to 2.1 dB or less. Additionally, a system-level simulation is conducted in line with 5G IAB evaluation methodology, which explores the potential performance gain of the proposed technique in presence of cross-link interference (CLI). Results indicate that the method could yield a cell throughput gain of about 84%, compared to the current time division duplex deployment.

Automated summary

Full duplex (FD) communication is a promising technology in 5G-advanced and 6G systems that doubles the channel capability. However, this improvement comes with self-interference (SI), which is difficult to cancel. Integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks in mmW band minimize this challenge by using stationary transceivers and beamforming. A practical SI cancellation (SIC) technique is presented, reducing SI to the noise floor in high transmission power class mmW-based IAB networks. Field tests and system-level simulation show significant reduction in residual-interference to noise ratio (R-INR) and potential cell throughput gain compared to current duplex deployment.