Addressing Residual Interference in Massive MIMO Utilizing Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel method to address coherent interference (pilot contamination) in Massive MIMO by incorporating control over propagation environment through Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces. In earlier research it was established that each mobile device has unique spatial signature which can be used as identifier even if they are sharing same pilot sequence. However in certain circumstances when their signals are received at BS with same Angle of Arrival their spatial structure become similar thus their individual identity is lost. This situation adds error in acquisition of channel state information, the accuracy of which is the key to benefit from Massive MIMO. This paper present a method to resolve the mentioned accepted gap using mathematical basis and simulation methods. A mathematical model of Massive MIMO is presented which is widely accepted by the subject modeling community. The model is then used to generate the basis for the presented algorithm through further mathematical studies and simulations. The basic algorithm used for the resolution of pilot contamination problem is finally presented in this paper. The algorithm was simulated using MATLAB and simulation results are tabulated to identify the results of pilot de-contamination after incorporating signal propagation control.