A systematic review of intelligent reflecting surface aided non-orthogonal multiple access beamforming-based free space optical communication systems

Natiq, Batool Rafid; Abdulameer, Lwaa Faisal

doi:10.30772/qjes.2024.151005.1272

	A systematic review of intelligent reflecting surface aided non-orthogonal multiple access beamforming-based free space optical communication systems
Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences
Article 7, Volume 18, Issue 2, June 2025, Pages 155-162 PDF (9.63 M)
Document Type: Review Paper
DOI: 10.30772/qjes.2024.151005.1272
Authors
Batool Rafid Natiq; Lwaa Faisal Abdulameer^*
Department of Information and Communication, Al-Khwarizmi, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
Abstract
The intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs) that support non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and using beamforming techniques in free space optical (FSO), are systematically reviewed in this study. The IRS improves the spectral efficiency and connection by guiding channel users more efficiently through reconfigurable reflecting elements. This enhancement makes it easier to apply NOMA even when the original channels are not aligned. The study emphasizes how hardware limitations like phase shifters with poor precision affect performance. A thorough analysis of previous studies on IRS varieties, beamforming strategies, and multiple access strategies is given. Additionally, the research gaps and potential future paths are also detailed. Background information on IRS types is one of the key contributions. Another major contribution is highlighting the advantages of combining IRS with beamforming and multiple access strategies in FSO communication systems.
Keywords
Non-orthogonal multiple access(NOMA); Orthogonal-multiple-access (OMA); Intelligent-reflecting-surface (IRS); Free-space-optical (FSO); Radio-frequency (RF)

References
M.A. Atiyah, L. F. Abdulameer, and G. Narkhedel, “PDF Comparison based on Various FSO Channel Models under Different Atmospheric Turbulence,” Al-Khwarizmi Engineering Journal, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 78–89, 2023, Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.22153/kej.2023.09.004 M. J. Al-Dujaili and M. A. Al-dulaimi, “Fifth-generation telecommunications technologies: Features, architecture, challenges and solutions,” Wirel Pers Commun, vol. 128, no. 1, pp. 447–469, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-022-09962-x A. A. Abdullah, “Study the effect of Iraqi weather parameter in FSO communication using different wavelength (650, 532) nm,” Iraqi Journal of Physics, vol. 16, no. 36, pp. 104–112, 2018, Accessed: Aug. 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.30723/ijp.v16i36.35 E. Zedini, H. Soury, and M.-S. Alouini, “On the performance analysis of dual-hop mixed FSO/RF systems,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 3679–3689, 2016, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2016.2524685 A. A. Khaskheli and F. A. Memon, “Performance Evaluation of Digital Modulation Techniques for Next Generation FSO,” International Journal of Advanced Studies in Computers, Science and Engineering, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1–5, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://www.new.ijascse.org/Digital_Modulation_Techniques.pdf D. Rodewald, “MRV introduces industry’s first 10G ethernet wireless point-to-point system,” MRV Communications, Inc, 2008, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://us.aving.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=13940 L. F. Abdulameer and H. Fadhil, “Performance Analysis of FSO under Turbulent Channel Using OSTBC,” Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences (NJES) Vol, vol. 2, pp. 344–349, 2018, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. http://doi.org/10.29194/NJES.21030344 T. N. Do, G. Kaddoum, T. L. Nguyen, D. B. Da Costa, and Z. J. Haas, “Multi-RIS-aided wireless systems: Statistical characterization and performance analysis,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 8641–8658, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3117599 Q. Wu, S. Zhang, B. Zheng, C. You, and R. Zhang, “Intelligent reflecting surface-aided wireless communications: A tutorial,” IEEE transactions on communications, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 3313–3351, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3051897 I. I. Kim and E. J. Korevaar, “Availability of free-space optics (FSO) and hybrid FSO/RF systems,” in Optical Wireless Communications IV, SPIE, 2001, pp. 84–95. Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.449800 F. Nadeem, V. Kvicera, M. S. Awan, E. Leitgeb, S. S. Muhammad, and G. Kandus, “Weather effects on hybrid FSO/RF communication link,” IEEE journal on selected areas in communications, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1687–1697, 2009, Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSAC.2009.091218 M. Usman, H.-C. Yang, and M.-S. Alouini, “Practical switching-based hybrid FSO/RF transmission and its performance analysis,” IEEE Photonics J, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 1–13, 2014, Accessed: Aug. 12, 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JPHOT.2014.2352629 B. Bag, A. Das, I. S. Ansari, A. Prokeš, C. Bose, and A. Chandra, “Performance analysis of hybrid FSO systems using FSO/RF-FSO link adaptation,” IEEE Photonics J, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1–17, 2018, Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOT.2018.2837356 G. Alnwaimi and H. Boujemaa, “Hybrid RF/FSO communications through Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces in the presence of pointing errors,” Telecommun Syst, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 155–162, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-021-00802-0 W. Jiang and H. D. Schotten, “Orthogonal and non-orthogonal multiple access for intelligent reflection surface in 6G systems,” in 2023 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), IEEE, 2023, pp. 1–6. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/WCNC55385.2023.10118706 E. Ali, M. Ismail, R. Nordin, and N. F. Abdulah, “Beamforming techniques for massive MIMO systems in 5G: overview, classification, and trends for future research,” Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, vol. 18, pp. 753–772, 2017, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1601817 X. Mu, Y. Liu, L. Guo, J. Lin, and N. Al-Dhahir, “Exploiting intelligent reflecting surfaces in NOMA networks: Joint beamforming optimization,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, vol. 19, no. 10, pp. 6884–6898, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2020.3006915 A. Trichili, A. Ragheb, M. A. Esmail, M. Altamimi, I. Ashry, B. S. Ooi, S. Alshebeili, and M. -S. Alouini, “Retrofitting FSO systems in existing RF infrastructure: A non-zero-sum game technology,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 2, pp. 2597–2615, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2021.3130645 M. Di Renzo, A. Zappone, M. Debbah, M. -S. Alouini, and C. Yuen, “Smart radio environments empowered by reconfigurable AI meta-surfaces: An idea whose time has come,” EURASIP J Wirel Commun Netw, vol. 2019, no. 1, pp. 1–20, 2019, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-019-1438-9 R. Salam, A. Srivastava, V. A. Bohara, and A. Ashok, “An optical intelligent reflecting surface-assisted underwater wireless communication system,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2023.3303190 J. Lončar and Z. Šipuš, “Challenges in design of power-amplifying active metasurfaces,” in 2020 International Symposium ELMAR, IEEE, 2020, pp. 9–12. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/ELMAR49956.2020.9219017 Z. Zhang, L. Dai, X. Chen, C. Liu, F. Yang, R. Schober, and H. V. Poor, “Active RIS vs. passive RIS: Which will prevail in 6G?,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 1707–1725, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCOMM.2022.3231893 M. Ahmed, A. Wahid, S. S. Laique, W. U. Khan, A. Ihsan, F. Xu, S. Chatzinotas, and Han, “A survey on STAR-RIS: Use cases, recent advances, and future research challenges,” IEEE Internet Things J, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2023.3279357 B. Zheng, Q. Wu, and R. Zhang, “Intelligent reflecting surface-assisted multiple access with user pairing: NOMA or OMA?,” IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 753–757, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/LCOMM.2020.2969870 M. A. Khalighi and M. Uysal, “Survey on free space optical communication: A communication theory perspective,” IEEE communications surveys & tutorials, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 2231–2258, 2014, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2014.2329501 Q. Wu and R. Zhang, “Intelligent reflecting surface enhanced wireless network via joint active and passive beamforming,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, vol. 18, no. 11, pp. 5394–5409, 2019, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2019.2936025 Y. Liu, X. Liu, X. Mu, X. Lin, O. Alhussein, and J. Yuan, “STAR: Simultaneous transmission and reflection for 360° coverage by intelligent surfaces,” IEEE Wirel Commun, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 102–109, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWC.001.2100191 J. W. Goodman, Introduction to Fourier optics. Roberts and Company publishers, 2005 V. Jamali, H. Ajam, M. Najafi, B. Schmauss, R. Schober, and H. V. Poor, “Intelligent reflecting surface assisted free-space optical communications,” IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 59, no. 10, pp. 57–63, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOM.001.2100406 D. Wang, C. Watkins, and H. Xie, “MEMS mirrors for LiDAR: A review,” Micromachines (Basel), vol. 11, no. 5, p. 456, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11050456 K. Zhi, C. Pan, H. Ren, K. K. Chai, and M. Elkashlan, “Active RIS versus passive RIS: Which is superior with the same power budget?,” IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 1150–1154, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/LCOMM.2022.3159525 W. Long, R. Chen, M. Moretti, W. Zhang, and J. Li, “A promising technology for 6G wireless networks: Intelligent reflecting surface,” Journal of Communications and Information Networks, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.23919/JCIN.2021.9387701 Y. Ma, L. Chen, T. Lu, Y. Song, and K. Cao, “STAR-RIS-assisted key generation method in quasi-static environment,” EURASIP J Wirel Commun Netw, vol. 2024, no. 1, p. 55, 2024, Accessed: Aug. 11, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-024-02388-y Y. Al-Eryani and E. Hossain, “The D-OMA method for massive multiple access in 6G: Performance, security, and challenges,” IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 92–99, 2019, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/MVT.2019.2919279 A. F. M. S. Shah, A. N. Qasim, M. A. Karabulut, H. Ilhan, and M. B. Islam, “Survey and performance evaluation of multiple access schemes for next-generation wireless communication systems,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 113428–113442, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3104509 J. Li, X. Wu, and R. Laroia, OFDMA mobile broadband communications: A systems approach. Cambridge University Press, 2013. V. Garg, Wireless communications & networking. Elsevier, 2010. A. F. M. S. Shah, A. N. Qasim, M. A. Karabulut, H. Ilhan, and M. B. Islam, “Survey and performance evaluation of multiple access schemes for next-generation wireless communication systems,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 113428–113442, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3104509 S. A. Yosef and L. F. Abdulameer, “Performance Enhancement of VLC-NOMA Employing Beamforming Function based vehicle-to-multivehicle Communication system,” IETE J Res, pp. 1–12, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/03772063.2023.2290092 S. A. Yosef and L. F. Abdulameer, “A Systematic Review on Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) Based on Visible Light Communication for Intelligent Transportation Systems,” Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 278–290, 2024, Accessed: Aug. 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.25130/tjes.31.1.23 S. A. Yosef and L. F. Abdulameer, “Performance Enhancement of VLC-NOMA Employing Beamforming Function based vehicle-to-multivehicle Communication system,” IETE J Res, pp. 1–12, 2023, Accessed: Aug. 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/03772063.2023.2290092 Y. Saito, Y. Kishiyama, A. Benjebbour, T. Nakamura, A. Li, and K. Higuchi, “Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) for cellular future radio access,” in 2013 IEEE 77th vehicular technology conference (VTC Spring), IEEE, 2013, pp. 1–5. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/VTCSpring.2013.6692652 G. Xu and Q. Zhang, “Mixed RF/FSO deep space communication system under solar scintillation effect,” IEEE Trans Aerosp Electron Syst, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 3237–3251, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAES.2021.3074130 Z. Ding and H. V. Poor, “A simple design of IRS-NOMA transmission,” IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 1119–1123, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/LCOMM.2020.2974196 X. Zhao and J. Sun, “Secure reconfigurable intelligent surface aided heterogeneous VLC–RF cooperative NOMA networks,” Opt Commun, vol. 511, p. 127983, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2022.127983 H. Ma, H. Wang, H. Li, and Y. Feng, “Transmit power minimization for STAR-RIS-empowered uplink NOMA system,” IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 2430–2434, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22072436 L. Rao, M. Pant, L. Malviya, A. Parmar, and S. V. Charhate, “5G beamforming techniques for the coverage of intended directions in modern wireless communication: in-depth review,” Int J Microw Wirel Technol, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 1039–1062, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1759078720001622 N. Tiwari and T. R. Rao, “A switched beam antenna array with butler matrix network using substrate integrated waveguide technology for 60 GHz communications,” in 2015 International Conference on Advances in Computing, Communications and Informatics (ICACCI), IEEE, 2015, pp. 2152–2157. Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeue.2016.03.014 V. Venkateswaran and A.-J. van der Veen, “Analog beamforming in MIMO communications with phase shift networks and online channel estimation,” IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 58, no. 8, pp. 4131–4143, 2010, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSP.2010.2048321 Q. Wu and R. Zhang, “Intelligent reflecting surface enhanced wireless network via joint active and passive beamforming,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, vol. 18, no. 11, pp. 5394–5409, 2019, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2019.2936025 X. Ma, S. Guo, H. Zhang, Y. Fang, and D. Yuan, “Joint beamforming and reflecting design in reconfigurable intelligent surface-aided multi-user communication systems,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 3269–3283, 2021, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2020.3048780 A. Chaaban and M. Debbah, “Opportunistic beamforming using an intelligent reflecting surface without instantaneous CSI,” IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 146–150, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/LWC.2020.3023399 J. Dang, Z. Zhang, and L. Wu, “Joint beamforming for intelligent reflecting surface aided wireless communication using statistical CSI,” China Communications, vol. 17, no. 8, pp. 147–157, 2020, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.23919/JCC.2020.08.012 H. Ajam, M. Najafi, V. Jamali, B. Schmauss, and R. Schober, “Modeling and design of IRS-assisted multilink FSO systems,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 3333–3349, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCOMM.2022.3163767 S.-P. Le, H.-N. Nguyen, N.-T. Nguyen, C. H. Van, A.-T. Le, and M. Voznak, “Physical layer security analysis of IRS-based downlink and uplink NOMA networks,” EURASIP J Wirel Commun Netw, vol. 2023, no. 1, p. 105, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-023-02309-5 D. Wang, M. Wu, Z. Wei, K. Yu, L. Min, and S. Mumtaz, “Uplink secrecy performance of RIS-based RF/FSO three-dimension heterogeneous networks,” IEEE Trans Wirel Commun, 2023, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TWC.2023.3292073 K. Zhao, Y. Mao, and Y. Shi, “Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Empowered Cooperative Rate Splitting with User Relaying,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.10921, 2024, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.10921 L.-H. Shen, Q. Wu, J. Zhang, M. Di Renzo, and Y. Chen, “D-STAR: Dual Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for Joint Uplink/Downlink Transmission,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, 2024, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCOMM.2024.3364988 F. C. Okogbaa, M. M. Mishra, T. Anjali, and G. Kaddoum, “Design and application of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) for beyond 5G wireless networks: a review,” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 7, p. 2436, 2022, Accessed: Jun. 18, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22072436
Statistics Article View: 466 PDF Download: 708