Structured Connectivity for 6G Reflex Arc: Task-Oriented Virtual User and New Uplink-Downlink Tradeoff

TL;DR

This paper introduces a task-oriented optimization framework for 6G networks that treats sensor and actuator links as a virtual user, optimizing uplink and downlink resources to improve control performance in $ ext{SC}^3$ loops.

Contribution

It proposes a novel virtual user model for 6G $ ext{SC}^3$ systems and develops a joint UL&DL optimization scheme to enhance control task performance.

Findings

Achieves a task-level UL&DL balance surpassing conventional schemes.

Provides a closed-form solution for bandwidth and optimal time allocation.

Demonstrates improved control cost reduction through simulations.

Abstract

To accommodate the evolving demands of unmanned operations, the future sixth-generation (6G) network will support not only communication links but also sensing-communication-computing-control ($\mathbf{SC}^3$) loops. In each $\mathbf{SC}^3$ cycle, the sensor uploads sensing data to the computing center, and the computing center calculates the control command and sends it to the actuator to take action. To maintain the task-level connections between the sensor-computing center link and the computing center-actuator link, we propose to treat the sensor and actuator as a virtual user. In this way, the two communication links of the $\mathbf{SC}^3$ loop become the uplink and downlink (UL&DL) of the virtual user. Based on the virtual user, we propose a task-oriented UL&DL optimization scheme. This scheme jointly optimizes UL&DL transmit power, time, bandwidth, and CPU frequency to minimize the control linear quadratic regulator (LQR) cost. We decouple the complex problem into a convex UL&DL bandwidth allocation problem with the closed-form solution for the optimal time allocation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves a task-level balance between the UL&DL, surpassing conventional communication schemes that optimize each link separately.