An Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) is a low-cost and energy-efficient technology that enhances wireless network coverage by intelligently reflecting signals in future mobile communication systems.
Definition
Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS), also known as Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), is a cost-effective solution for achieving high spectrum efficiency and energy efficiency in future wireless communication systems.
It leverages a large number of low-cost passive elements that are capable of reflecting wireless signals with adjustable phase shifts.
The power consumption and deployment cost of IRS are very low. Due to these characteristics, IRS is considered one of the key technologies of next-generation mobile communication networks and is mainly used to enhance network coverage without active transmission.
Examples
An intelligent reflecting surface may be deployed as a second network device in a wireless environment. Because of its low power consumption and low cost, IRS is a cost-effective solution for improving network coverage.
In some environments, devices such as an intelligent reflecting surface or a relay are deployed. Reflecting a received signal by these devices is equivalent to introducing an artificial multipath component.
As a result, the channel state information (CSI) measured at the receiver becomes inconsistent with the real CSI. The receiver can restore the real CSI of the channel because it is aware of the method used to introduce the artificial multipath.
Information related to the reflective surface may include indication information specifying whether a propagation path is associated with a reflective surface.
- If the indication is “yes”, the propagation path is associated with a reflective surface such as a wall surface, the ground, or an intelligent reflecting surface.
- If the indication is “no”, the propagation path is not associated with a reflective surface such as a wall surface, the ground, or an intelligent reflecting surface.
References
IEEE Access – Intelligent Reflecting Surface for Wireless Communication Systems
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8683145