This paper presents a non-orthogonal retransmission framework for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks (ISTNs). This framework integrates hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) with incremental redundancy (HARQ-IR) and rate splitting multiple access (RSMA). HARQ-IR and RSMA are utilized for downlink retransmission and multi-user interference management, respectively, to address the requirements for extensive and highly reliable concurrent connections. Employing the inclusion-exclusion principle, we establish precise upper and lower bounds for the exact outage probability (OP), which function as approximations. We also examine the asymptotic OP, which yields significant insights and informs a partial HARQ-IR-RSMA scheme. We propose a joint common-private power allocation (JCPPA) algorithm based on alternating optimization (AO) to enhance the energy efficiency (EE) of the partial retransmission scheme while adhering to power and outage probability (OP) constraints. The non-convex problem is addressed effectively via asymptotic OP, which allows for the decomposition into common and private power optimization subproblems utilizing the Dinkelbach method. The common power optimization subproblem is convex and can be solved using the CVX toolbox. The private power optimization subproblem is addressed through variable substitution and the application of the Lagrangian dual algorithm. The numerical results indicate the accuracy and superiority of the proposed special scheme regarding outage performance and energy efficiency when compared to benchmarks.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assisted communication is becoming a promising technology for future networks. Leveraging this benefit, the ambient backscatter communication can utilize the UAV’s emitted signal as the radio frequency carrier to transmit its own information. However, this transmission behavior is easily to be detected by the UAV due to the high possibility of line-of-sight (LoS) air-ground channel. Thus, in this paper, we propose a covert ambient backscatter communication scheme by exploiting the UAV relay as the radio frequency source. Specifically, the UAV relays the information for two legitimate ground nodes, and monitors the potential ambient backscatter communication. Our goal is to maximize the covert ambient backscatter communication rate under the worst case that the UAV performs with the optimal detection threshold, transmit power and hovering location. First, the UAV’s optimal detection threshold is analyzed, and the corresponding closed-form expression of error detection probability is derived. Then, we propose an iterative algorithm to achieve the minimum error detection probability by optimizing the transmit power and hovering location of UAV. To fight against the detection of UAV, we formulate a convex optimization problem to maximize the worst-case covert ambient backscatter communication rate by adjusting the reflection coefficient. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively improve the covert ambient backscatter communication rate.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assisted relaying has become the focus of the next generation network owing to its superiority of low cost and swift deployment. In addition, the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is known to have significant advantages in system complexity compared to the traditional time-switching (TS) and power-splitting (PS) techniques. Since the UAV is known to have limited size, weight and power, we investigate the OFDM-based SWIPT for a multi-source-destination UAV relaying system in this paper. With the purpose of maximizing the average transmission rate (ATR) under the constraint of the harvested energy, we jointly optimize user scheduling, resource allocation and UAV trajectory. To tackle this issue, we first divide it into three subproblems of user scheduling, power and subcarrier allocation, and UAV trajectory optimization. Subsequently, the user scheduling subproblem is optimally solved. The power and subcarrier subproblem is approximately solved by addressing its dual problem and the UAV trajectory optimization subproblem is addressed by successive convex approximation technique. Then, we put forward an iterative algorithm based on block coordinate descent method by solving the three subproblems alternately. Numerical results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm is preferable than the two benchmark schemes.

Ambient backscatter communication is an energy efficient technique for massive Internet of Things (IoT). Combining with flexibly deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the UAV-aided ambient backscatter communication can establish wireless links for isolated IoT nodes efficiently. In this paper, we investigate the outage performance of the UAV-aided air-ground network with underlaid ambient backscatter communications, where the emitted signals from the air-ground link are leveraged as radio frequency (RF) carrier for ambient backscattering. The air-ground channel is modeled as a probabilistic line-of-sight (LoS) channel with Nakagami-$m$fading. Then, the ground communication is modeled as a non-line-of-sight (NLoS) channel with Rayleigh fading. For the downlink, we derive the expressions of the outage probabilities of the backscatter link and the air-ground link. In addition, the asymptotic cases of infinite transmit power and infinite fading parameter are analyzed. For the uplink, the outage probabilities of the backscatter link and air-ground are analyzed, with the cases of infinite transmit power and fading parameter discussed. Simulation results show that the analytical results match well with the Monte Carlo results, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Combining with flexibly deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and energy-efficient ambient backscatter communication, the UAV-aided ambient backscatter communication can establish wireless links for isolated IoT nodes efficiently. In this paper, we investigate a UAV air-ground networks with underlaid ambient backscatter communications, where the emitted signal from the UAV is leveraged as radio frequency (RF) carrier for ambient backscattering. First, we establish a system model of the UAV air-ground networks with underlaid ambient backscatter communications. Then, the expressions of the outage probabilities for both the backscatter link and the air-ground link are derived. In addition, the asymptotic outage probabilities of infinite transmit power and infinite fading parameter are analyzed. Simulations show that the analytical results match well with the Monte Carlo results, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

In this paper, an integrated intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication scheme is proposed where the IRS is mounted on the UAV as a mobile relay between the base station (BS) and the ground user. We present two schemes to maximize the spectrum efficiency (SE) and the energy efficiency (EE) of the system by jointly optimizing the active beamforming, passive beamforming and UAV trajectory. First, to tackle the SE maximization problem, we divide it into three sub-problems to optimize the variables iteratively. For the active and passive beamforming, the closed-form solutions can be directly derived. The suboptimal trajectory design can be obtained by utilizing the successive convex approximation (SCA). Furthermore, considering the limited on-broad energy of UAV, a scheme to maximize the EE is proposed. The optimal active beamforming and the passive beamforming can be similarly obtained. For the non-convex fractional programing of trajectory optimization, it can be solved via the Dinkelbach’s method. Numerical results demonstrate that the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely employed in wireless communications, and the performance can be enhanced with the assistance of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS). However, the finite energy of UAVs greatly limits the endurance and becomes a bottleneck for IRS-UAV communications. In this paper, an integrated IRS-UAV communication scheme is proposed where the IRS is mounted on the UAV to connect the base station and the ground user. We present two schemes to maximize the spectrum efficiency (SE) and the energy efficiency (EE) of the system by jointly optimizing the active beamforming, passive beamforming and UAV trajectory. First, to tackle the SE maximization problem, we divide it into three subproblems to optimize the variables iteratively. For the active and passive beamforming, the closed-form solutions can be directly derived. The suboptimal trajectory design can be obtained by utilizing the successive convex approximation. Furthermore, considering the limited on- broad energy of UAV, a scheme to maximize the EE is proposed. The optimal active beamforming and the passive beamforming can be similarly obtained. For the non-convex fractional programming of trajectory optimization, it can be solved via the Dinkelbach’s method. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are effective for the IRS-UAV networks to maximize the SE and EE, respectively.