Sum-Rate Maximization for Uplink Segmented Waveguide-Enabled Pinching-Antenna Systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel uplink transmission framework using segmented waveguide-enabled pinching antennas, optimizing sum-rate performance for multiuser systems with new placement methods and two operating protocols.

Contribution

It proposes a new SWAN framework with segment selection and aggregation protocols, along with low-complexity antenna placement methods, enhancing sum-rate performance over traditional systems.

Findings

SWAN outperforms conventional pinching-antenna systems in sum-rate.

Segment aggregation (SA) yields higher sum-rate than segment selection (SS).

Proposed placement methods are effective and low-complexity.

Abstract

A multiuser uplink transmission framework based on the segmented waveguide-enabled pinching-antenna system (SWAN) is proposed under two operating protocols: segment selection (SS) and segment aggregation (SA). For each protocol, the achievable uplink sum-rate is characterized for both time-division multiple access (TDMA) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). Low-complexity placement methods for the pinching antennas (PAs) are developed for both protocols and for both multiple-access schemes. Numerical results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and show that SWAN achieves higher sum-rate performance than conventional pinching-antenna systems, while SA provides additional performance gains over SS.