Multi-User and Multi-Target Dual-Function Radar-Communication Waveform Design: Multi-Fold Performance Tradeoffs

Abstract

The dual-functional radar-communication (DFRC) has played an essential role in the effective utilization of both hardware and spectrum resources. It enables the integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) towards 5G-Advanced or 6G. As an effective way to realize DFRC, in this paper, we design and optimize the transceiver waveform for a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) DFRC system, where the dual functional base station (BS) simultaneously detects the multiple targets while communicating with multiple communication users. To this end, we first characterize the multi-fold tradeoffs between communication and radar sensing by defining an achievable performance region of the proposed DFRC system. Then, we formulate the optimal DFRC waveform design as a fairness profile optimization (FPO) problem to achieve the Pareto boundary of performance region, which is solved by using successive convex approximation (SCA) method. Moreover, two low-complexity waveform designs based on semidefinite programming and matrix space projection methods are provided to satisfy the goal of realizing green DFRC network. Simulation results confirm the superiority of our proposed designs.