Optimum Resource Allocation in 6G Optical Wireless Communication Systems

Abstract

Optical wireless communication (OWC) systems are a promising communication technology that can provide high data rates into the tens of Tb/s and can support multiple users at the same time. This paper investigates the optimum allocation of resources in wavelength division multiple access (WDMA) OWC systems to support multiple users. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed to optimise the resource allocation. Two types of receivers are examined, an angle diversity receiver (ADR) and an imaging receiver (ImR). The ImR can support high data rates up to 14 Gbps for each user with a higher signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR). The ImR receiver provides a better result compared to the ADR in term of channel bandwidth, SINR and data rate. Given the highly directional nature of light, the space dimension can be exploited to enable the co-existence of multiple, spatially separated, links and thus aggregate data rates into the Tb/s. We have considered a visible light communication (VLC) setting with four wavelengths per access point (red, green, yellow and blue). In the infrared spectrum, commercial sources exist that can support up to 100 wavelengths, significantly increasing the system aggregate capacity. Other orthogonal domains can be exploited to lead to higher capacities in these future systems in 6G and beyond.