Geofencing indoor wireless coverage with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
GeoRIS: Geofencing With Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces
Networking and Internet Architecture
Summary
Wireless signals sometimes need to be controlled so they only work inside certain areas, like inside a building. The authors study how special surfaces called reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) can be used to either block or allow wireless signals to reach indoors. They propose GeoRIS, a system that changes how signals are sent so that indoor areas can either get strong signal coverage or be shielded from signals. GeoRIS works without needing to control outdoor cell towers and can operate even without detailed signal information. Their tests show it can switch an indoor space from good coverage to almost no service, and back again.
What this means in practice
- •For wireless network planners: Control indoor 5G coverage dynamically by adjusting RIS to block or extend signals without reconfiguring outdoor base stations.
- •For smart building integrators: Manage indoor wireless signal availability for security or service quality by using RIS devices to selectively shield or enhance signal coverage.
Authors
André Gomes, Arthur S. de Sena, Luiz A. DaSilva, Jacek Kibilda
Abstract
Geofencing refers to controlling the availability of wireless services within a network perimeter. In this paper, we study how RIS can be used to achieve geofencing in outdoor-to-indoor network scenarios. Particularly, we propose GeoRIS, a RIS controller that achieves geofencing by exploiting beam management procedures to control beam alignment in networks with steerable directional transmission links. GeoRIS does not require control over the outdoor base station and can work with or without channel state information. Through simulations based on 3GPP network models, we validate GeoRIS and demonstrate that it can "shield" an indoor network area (for example, by weakening communication links to the point where indoor users cannot meet the minimum requirements of 5G eMBB services). We also highlight an interesting insight: the same RIS can play a dual role, extending or inhibiting outdoor-to-indoor communication. In our simulations, we show that GeoRIS can easily change an indoor space from a "strongly covered area" (e.g., supports eMBB services in approx. 90% of network area) to an "out-of-service area" (e.g., inhibits eMBB services in approx. 90% of network area), or vice-versa, an attractive characteristic in scenarios in which dynamic indoor coverage control is needed.