Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering

Yajun Zhao; Linglong Dai; Jianhua Zhang; Ran Ji; Mengnan Jian; Hao Xue; Hongkang Yu; Yunqi Sun; Yu Lu; Zidong Wu; Zhuo Xu; Jinke Li; Haiyang Miao; Zhiqiang Yuan; Pan Tang; Jiayu Shen; Tierui Gong; Haixia Liu; Jiaqi Han; Qiang Feng; Zhi Chen; Lingxiang Li; Gang Yang; Yong Zeng; Cunhua Pan; Wang Liu; Kangda Zhi; Weidong Hu; Yuanwei Liu; Xidong Mu; Chau Yuen; Mérouane Debbah; Chongwen Huang; Long Li; Ping Zhang

doi:10.1631/FITEE.2400576

Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering

Yajun Zhao
, Linglong Dai^*
, Jianhua Zhang^*
, Ran Ji
, Mengnan Jian
, Hao Xue
, Hongkang Yu
, Yunqi Sun
, Yu Lu
, Zidong Wu
, Zhuo Xu
, Jinke Li
, Haiyang Miao
, Zhiqiang Yuan
, Pan Tang
, Jiayu Shen
, Tierui Gong
, Haixia Liu
, Jiaqi Han
, Qiang Feng

Zhi Chen, Lingxiang Li, Gang Yang, Yong Zeng, Cunhua Pan, Wang Liu, Kangda Zhi, Weidong Hu, Yuanwei Liu, Xidong Mu, Chau Yuen, Mérouane Debbah, Chongwen Huang^*, Long Li^*, Ping Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

230 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Near-field technology is increasingly recognized due to its transformative potential in communication systems, establishing it as a critical enabler for sixth-generation (6G) telecommunication development. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of recent advancements in near-field technology research. First, we explore the near-field propagation fundamentals by detailing definitions, transmission characteristics, and performance analysis. Next, we investigate various near-field channel models—deterministic, stochastic, and electromagnetic information theory based models, and review the latest progress in near-field channel testing, highlighting practical performance and limitations. With evolving channel models, traditional mechanisms such as channel estimation, beamtraining, and codebook design require redesign and optimization to align with near-field propagation characteristics. We then introduce innovative beam designs enabled by near-field technologies, focusing on non-diffractive beams (such as Bessel and Airy) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, addressing both hardware architectures and signal processing frameworks, showcasing their revolutionary potential in near-field communication systems. Additionally, we highlight progress in both engineering and standardization, covering the primary 6G spectrum allocation, enabling technologies for near-field propagation, and network deployment strategies. Finally, we conclude by identifying promising future research directions for near-field technology development that could significantly impact system design. This comprehensive review provides a detailed understanding of the current state and potential of near-field technologies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1580-1626
Number of pages	47
Journal	Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering
Volume	25
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.2400576
Publication status	Published - Dec 2024

Keywords

6G
channel model
codebook
engineering and standardization
near-field technology
non-diffractive beams
orbital angular momentum
TN929.5

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Signal Processing
Hardware and Architecture
Computer Networks and Communications
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1631/FITEE.2400576Licence: CC BY

Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering
Copyright 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.
Final published version, 4.95 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Zhao, Y., Dai, L., Zhang, J., Ji, R., Jian, M., Xue, H., Yu, H., Sun, Y., Lu, Y., Wu, Z., Xu, Z., Li, J., Miao, H., Yuan, Z., Tang, P., Shen, J., Gong, T., Liu, H., Han, J., ... Zhang, P. (2024). Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering. Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, 25(12), 1580-1626. https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.2400576

@article{d02702fbdba34104b2148be8255a1a87,

title = "Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering",

abstract = "Near-field technology is increasingly recognized due to its transformative potential in communication systems, establishing it as a critical enabler for sixth-generation (6G) telecommunication development. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of recent advancements in near-field technology research. First, we explore the near-field propagation fundamentals by detailing definitions, transmission characteristics, and performance analysis. Next, we investigate various near-field channel models{\textemdash}deterministic, stochastic, and electromagnetic information theory based models, and review the latest progress in near-field channel testing, highlighting practical performance and limitations. With evolving channel models, traditional mechanisms such as channel estimation, beamtraining, and codebook design require redesign and optimization to align with near-field propagation characteristics. We then introduce innovative beam designs enabled by near-field technologies, focusing on non-diffractive beams (such as Bessel and Airy) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, addressing both hardware architectures and signal processing frameworks, showcasing their revolutionary potential in near-field communication systems. Additionally, we highlight progress in both engineering and standardization, covering the primary 6G spectrum allocation, enabling technologies for near-field propagation, and network deployment strategies. Finally, we conclude by identifying promising future research directions for near-field technology development that could significantly impact system design. This comprehensive review provides a detailed understanding of the current state and potential of near-field technologies. ",

keywords = "6G, channel model, codebook, engineering and standardization, near-field technology, non-diffractive beams, orbital angular momentum, TN929.5",

author = "Yajun Zhao and Linglong Dai and Jianhua Zhang and Ran Ji and Mengnan Jian and Hao Xue and Hongkang Yu and Yunqi Sun and Yu Lu and Zidong Wu and Zhuo Xu and Jinke Li and Haiyang Miao and Zhiqiang Yuan and Pan Tang and Jiayu Shen and Tierui Gong and Haixia Liu and Jiaqi Han and Qiang Feng and Zhi Chen and Lingxiang Li and Gang Yang and Yong Zeng and Cunhua Pan and Wang Liu and Kangda Zhi and Weidong Hu and Yuanwei Liu and Xidong Mu and Chau Yuen and M{\'e}rouane Debbah and Chongwen Huang and Long Li and Ping Zhang",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1631/FITEE.2400576",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

pages = "1580--1626",

journal = "Frontiers of Information Technology \& Electronic Engineering",

issn = "2095-9230",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

number = "12",

}

Zhao, Y, Dai, L, Zhang, J, Ji, R, Jian, M, Xue, H, Yu, H, Sun, Y, Lu, Y, Wu, Z, Xu, Z, Li, J, Miao, H, Yuan, Z, Tang, P, Shen, J, Gong, T, Liu, H, Han, J, Feng, Q, Chen, Z, Li, L, Yang, G, Zeng, Y, Pan, C, Liu, W, Zhi, K, Hu, W, Liu, Y, Mu, X, Yuen, C, Debbah, M, Huang, C, Li, L & Zhang, P 2024, 'Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering', Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, vol. 25, no. 12, pp. 1580-1626. https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.2400576

TY - JOUR

T1 - Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering

AU - Zhao, Yajun

AU - Dai, Linglong

AU - Zhang, Jianhua

AU - Ji, Ran

AU - Jian, Mengnan

AU - Xue, Hao

AU - Yu, Hongkang

AU - Sun, Yunqi

AU - Lu, Yu

AU - Wu, Zidong

AU - Xu, Zhuo

AU - Li, Jinke

AU - Miao, Haiyang

AU - Yuan, Zhiqiang

AU - Tang, Pan

AU - Shen, Jiayu

AU - Gong, Tierui

AU - Liu, Haixia

AU - Han, Jiaqi

AU - Feng, Qiang

AU - Chen, Zhi

AU - Li, Lingxiang

AU - Yang, Gang

AU - Zeng, Yong

AU - Pan, Cunhua

AU - Liu, Wang

AU - Zhi, Kangda

AU - Hu, Weidong

AU - Liu, Yuanwei

AU - Mu, Xidong

AU - Yuen, Chau

AU - Debbah, Mérouane

AU - Huang, Chongwen

AU - Li, Long

AU - Zhang, Ping

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - Near-field technology is increasingly recognized due to its transformative potential in communication systems, establishing it as a critical enabler for sixth-generation (6G) telecommunication development. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of recent advancements in near-field technology research. First, we explore the near-field propagation fundamentals by detailing definitions, transmission characteristics, and performance analysis. Next, we investigate various near-field channel models—deterministic, stochastic, and electromagnetic information theory based models, and review the latest progress in near-field channel testing, highlighting practical performance and limitations. With evolving channel models, traditional mechanisms such as channel estimation, beamtraining, and codebook design require redesign and optimization to align with near-field propagation characteristics. We then introduce innovative beam designs enabled by near-field technologies, focusing on non-diffractive beams (such as Bessel and Airy) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, addressing both hardware architectures and signal processing frameworks, showcasing their revolutionary potential in near-field communication systems. Additionally, we highlight progress in both engineering and standardization, covering the primary 6G spectrum allocation, enabling technologies for near-field propagation, and network deployment strategies. Finally, we conclude by identifying promising future research directions for near-field technology development that could significantly impact system design. This comprehensive review provides a detailed understanding of the current state and potential of near-field technologies.

AB - Near-field technology is increasingly recognized due to its transformative potential in communication systems, establishing it as a critical enabler for sixth-generation (6G) telecommunication development. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of recent advancements in near-field technology research. First, we explore the near-field propagation fundamentals by detailing definitions, transmission characteristics, and performance analysis. Next, we investigate various near-field channel models—deterministic, stochastic, and electromagnetic information theory based models, and review the latest progress in near-field channel testing, highlighting practical performance and limitations. With evolving channel models, traditional mechanisms such as channel estimation, beamtraining, and codebook design require redesign and optimization to align with near-field propagation characteristics. We then introduce innovative beam designs enabled by near-field technologies, focusing on non-diffractive beams (such as Bessel and Airy) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, addressing both hardware architectures and signal processing frameworks, showcasing their revolutionary potential in near-field communication systems. Additionally, we highlight progress in both engineering and standardization, covering the primary 6G spectrum allocation, enabling technologies for near-field propagation, and network deployment strategies. Finally, we conclude by identifying promising future research directions for near-field technology development that could significantly impact system design. This comprehensive review provides a detailed understanding of the current state and potential of near-field technologies.

KW - 6G

KW - channel model

KW - codebook

KW - engineering and standardization

KW - near-field technology

KW - non-diffractive beams

KW - orbital angular momentum

KW - TN929.5

U2 - 10.1631/FITEE.2400576

DO - 10.1631/FITEE.2400576

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:86000596662

SN - 2095-9230

VL - 25

SP - 1580

EP - 1626

JO - Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering

JF - Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering

IS - 12

ER -

Near-field communications: characteristics, technologies, and engineering

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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