SoungLiew, CUHK, HongKong

Title: Physical-Layer Network Coding

Abstract:
This talk gives an overview of the research landscape of Physical-layer Network Coding (PNC). The goal is to provide a contextual framework for the audience to understand research issues in PNC.

PNC is founded on the idea that the electromagnetic waves received simultaneously from different sources are an additive superposition of signals. A form of network coding operation is performed automatically by nature during the reception process when multiple sources transmit simultaneously. In other words, signal decoding and network coding can be merged into one, and collided signals could be turned into useful network-coded information with proper signal processing. With PNC, instead of shunning interference, sometimes it is desirable to embrace interference.

Since the publication of our first paper on PNC in Mobicom 2006, PNC has developed into a subfield of network coding that has attracted the attention and follow-ups of many researchers. These investigations have led to many new results that advance the understanding of PNC.

In this talk, I will give a quick introduction of PNC. After that, I will overview some of the interesting results in four areas of research related to PNC: 1) communication theory and signal processing; 2) information theory; 3) network and protocol design; and 4) implementations of wireless and optical PNC systems.

The goal is to provide information for the audience to dig deeper into PNC research should they be interested.