Intelligent Reflection Enabling Technologies for Integrated and Green Internet-of-Everything Beyond 5G: Communication, Sensing, and Security

TL;DR

This paper reviews intelligent reflection technologies like RIS and AmBC that enable efficient, secure, and green IoE communications beyond 5G, emphasizing their benefits in integrated space-air-ground networks.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive tutorial on IRC technologies for IoE, highlighting their advantages in future wireless, sensing, and security applications beyond 5G.

Findings

IRC enhances communication efficiency in IoE environments.

Numerical results demonstrate improved security in unfavorable conditions.

IRC supports green and integrated space-air-ground communications.

Abstract

Internet-of-Everything (IoE) has gradually been recognized as an integral part of future wireless networks. In IoE, there can be an ultra-massive number of smart devices of various types to be served, imposing multi-dimensional requirements on wireless communication, sensing, and security. In this article, we provide a tutorial overview of the promising intelligent reflection communication (IRC) technologies, including reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) and ambient backscatter communication (AmBC), to support the requirements of IoE applications beyond the fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication network. Specifically, we elaborate on the benefits of IRC-assisted IoE in the context of the space-air-ground integrated communications and green communications, which are regarded as key features of supporting future IoE application from society and industries. Furthermore, we envision that the IRC-assisted communication and sensing can mutually benefit each other and articulate multiple ways of enhancing the security in IoE by the IRC. Numerical results help illustrate the importance of the IRC in unfavorable secrecy environments. Finally, open research issues and challenges about the IRC-assisted IoE are presented.