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—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.
Authors
- Gang Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1622-9470)
- Kangda Zhi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1677-847X)
- Yu Lü (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4632-0272)
- Lingxiang Li
- Xidong Mu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4091-7430)
- Jiaqi Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1786-3817)
- Hongkang Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3760-2569)
- Hao Xue
- Weidong Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8675-5150)
- Qiang Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0613-5945)
- Zhiqiang Yuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4957-1651)
- Ping Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1485-5849)
- Ran Ji
- Mérouane Debbah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8941-8080)
- Pan Tang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0432-7361)
- Chau Yuen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9307-2120)
- Haiyang Miao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5578-0479)
- Zidong Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-0924)
- Yajun Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8823-5282)
- Tierui Gong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5136-3448)
- Cunhua Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5286-7958)
- Chongwen Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8398-8437)
- Yuanwei Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6389-8941)
- Linglong Dai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4250-7315)
- Yong Zeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3670-0434)
- Jiayu Shen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2949-4038)
- Mengnan Jian
- Peng Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1667-6617)
- Long Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0472-7314)
- Jianhua Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6492-3846)
- Haixia Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2189-2258)
- Zhuo Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5420-5966)
- Yan Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3242-4751)
- Jinke Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8876-3541)
- Zhi Chen
Institutions
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology (AE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering
- Published
- 2024-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1631/fitee.2400576
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Millimeter-Wave Propagation and Modeling
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.21
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National University of Defense Technology