This paper presents a novel framework for enhancing the security, data rate, and sensing performance of integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems. We employ a random frequency and pulse repetition interval (PRI) agility (RFPA) method for the waveform design, where the necessary random sequences are governed by shared secrets. These secrets, which can be pre-shared or generated via channel reciprocity, obfuscate critical radar parameters like Doppler frequency and pulse start times, thereby significantly impeding the ability to perform reconnaissance from a passive adversary without the secret key. To further introduce enhanced data throughput, we also introduce a hybrid information embedding scheme that integrates amplitude shift keying (ASK), phase shift keying (PSK), index modulation (IM), and spatial modulation (SM), for which a low-complexity sparse-matched filter receiver is proposed for accurate decoding with practical complexity. Finally, the excellent range-velocity resolution and clutter suppression of the proposed waveform are analyzed via the ambiguity function (AF).

Beyond-diagonal reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (BD-RISs) are emerging as a transformative technology in wireless communications, enabling enhanced performance and quality of service (QoS) of wireless systems in harsh urban environments due to their relatively low cost and advanced signal processing capabilities. Generally, BD-RIS systems are employed to improve robustness, increase achievable rates, and enhance energy efficiency of wireless systems in both direct and indirect ways. The direct way is to produce a favorable propagation environment via the design of optimized scattering matrices, while the indirect way is to reap additional improvements via the design of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) beamformers that further exploit the latter "engineered" medium. In this article, the problem of sum-rate maximization via BD-RIS is examined, with a focus on feasibility, namely low-complexity physical implementation, by enforcing reciprocity in the BD-RIS design in a manner that adheres to the geometry of the manifold of symmetric matrices. To that end, the sum-rate objective is transformed into a quadratic function via fractional programming (FP), augmented via the also quadratic reciprocity constraint in the form of a regularization term, while the unitary constraint is dealt with via a manifold optimization framework. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in outperforming current state-of-the-art (SotA) approaches in terms of sum-rate maximization.

We propose a framework to design integrated communication and computing (ICC) receivers capable of simultaneously detecting data symbols and performing over-the-air computing (AirComp) in a manner that: a) is systematically generalizable to any nomographic function, b) scales to a massive number of user equipments (UEs) and edge devices (EDs), c) supports the computation of multiple independent functions (streams), and d) operates in a multi-access fashion whereby each transmitter can choose to transmit either data symbols, computing signals or both. For the sake of illustration, we design the proposed multi-stream and multi-access method under an uplink setting, where multiple single-antenna UEs/EDs simultaneously transmit data and computing signals to a single multiple-antenna base station (BS)/access point (AP). Under the communication functionality, the receiver aims to detect all independent communication symbols while treating the computing streams as aggregate interference which it seeks to mitigate; and conversely, under the computing functionality, to minimize the distortion over the computing streams while minimizing their mutual interference as well as the interference due to data symbols. To that end, the design leverages the Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) framework relying only on element-wise scalar operations coupled with closed-form combiners purposebuilt for the AirComp operation, which allows for its use in massive settings, as demonstrated by simulation results incorporating up to 200 antennas and 300 UEs/EDs. The efficacy of the proposed method under different loading conditions is also evaluated, with the performance of the scheme shown to approach fundamental limiting bounds in the under/fully loaded cases.

We propose a novel doubly-dispersive (DD) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel model incorporating flexible intelligent metasurfaces (FIMs), which is suitable for integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) in high-mobility scenarios. We then discuss how the proposed FIM-parameterized DD (FPDD) channel model can be applied in a logical manner to multicarrier waveforms that are known to perform well in DD environments, namely, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS), and affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM). Leveraging the proposed model, we formulate an achievable rate maximization problem with a strong sensing constraint for all the aforementioned waveforms, which we then solve via a gradient ascent algorithm with closed-form gradients presented as a bonus. Our numerical results indicate that the achievable rate is significantly impacted by the emerging FIM technology with careful parametrization essential in obtaining strong ISAC performance across all waveforms suitable to mitigating the effects of DD channels.

We propose the affine filter bank modulation (AFBM) waveform for enhanced integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) in sixth generation (6G), designed by drawing on concepts from classical filter bank multicarrier modulation (FBMC) theory and recent advances in chirp-domain waveforms, particularly affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM). Specifically, AFBM exhibits several desirable properties, with emphasis on its remarkably low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and reduced out-of-band emission (OOBE) when bench-marked against the conventional AFDM waveform under doubly-dispersive (DD) channel conditions. In the communications setting, reliable symbol detection is achieved using a tailored low-complexity Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP)-based algorithm, while in the sensing setting, a range and velocity estimation approach is developed that integrates an expectation maximization (EM)-assisted probabilistic data association (PDA) framework to accurately identify surrounding targets. The highlighted performance and benefits of AFBM are validated through analytical and numerical evaluations, including conventional metrics such as ambiguity function (AF), bit error rate (BER), and root mean square error (RMSE), consolidating its position as a promising waveform for next-generation wireless systems.

Introduced with the advent of statistical wireless channel models for high mobility communications and having a profound role in communication-centric (CC) integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), the doubly-dispersive (DD) channel structure has long been heralded as a useful tool enabling the capture of the most important fading effects undergone by an arbitrary time-domain transmit signal propagating through some medium. However, the incorporation of this model into multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system setups, relying on the recent paradigm-shifting transceiver architecture based on stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIM), in an environment with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) remains an open problem due to the many intricate details that have to be accounted for. In this paper, we fill this gap by introducing a novel DD MIMO channel model that incorporates an arbitrary number of RISs in the ambient, as well as SIMs equipping both the transmitter and receiver. We then discuss how the proposed metasurfaces-parametrized DD (MPDD) channel model can be seamlessly applied to waveforms that are known to perform well in DD environments, namely, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS), and affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM), with each having their own inherent advantages and disadvantages. An illustrative application of the programmable functionality of the proposed model is finally presented to showcase its potential for boosting the performance of the aforementioned waveforms. Our numerical results indicate that the design of waveforms suitable to mitigating the effects of DD channels is significantly impacted by the emerging SIM technology.

We address the modeling and optimal beamforming (BF) design for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) continuous aperture array (CAPA) systems operating over doubly-dispersive (DD) channels. First, a comprehensive DD continuous MIMO (DDC MIMO) channel model that incorporates CAPAs at both the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) is derived, which is used to obtain explicit input-output (I/O) relations for various waveforms well suited to integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) and robust to DD channels, namely orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS), and affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM). Then, functional optimization problems are formulated for the design of TX and RX BF matrices that maximize received power, in which novel low-complexity, closed-form solutions are obtained via the calculus of variations (CoV) method, yielding expressions closely related to the classical matched filter commonly used in conventional MIMO systems. Simulation results confirm that the proposed TX/RX BF designs with CAPAs provide significant performance and computational complexity gains over conventional MIMO systems in DD channels.

We propose a new quantum-assisted maximum likelihood detection (MLD) scheme for generalized spatial modulation (GSM) systems. To that end, we first present a novel MLD formulation for GSM, and then describe a corresponding novel method to prepare the initial state for an associated quantum-computing Grover adaptive search (GAS) algorithm. Simulation results are presented to show that our approach achieves optimal performance and reduces query complexity compared both to the classical MLD and to earlier quantum search methods, which do not achieve an advantage over classical MLD for some parameter settings.

We propose a novel method for blind bistatic radar parameter estimation (RPE), which enables integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) by allowing passive (receive) base stations (BSs) to extract radar parameters (ranges and velocities of targets), without requiring knowledge of the information sent by an active (transmit) BS to its users. The contributed method is formulated with basis on the covariance of received signals, and under a generalized doubly-dispersive channel model compatible with most of the waveforms typically considered for ISAC, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) and affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM). The original non-convex problem, which includes an ℓ0-norm regularization term in order to mitigate clutter, is solved not by relaxation to an ℓ1-norm, but by introducing an arbitrarily-tight approximation then relaxed via fractional programming (FP). Simulation results show that the performance of the proposed method approaches that of an ideal system with perfect knowledge of the transmit signal covariance with an increasing number of transmit frames.

We propose a novel solution to the rigid body localization (RBL) problem, in which the three-dimensional (3D) rotation and translation is estimated by only utilizing the range measurements between the wireless sensors on the rigid body and the anchor sensors. Given the prior knowledge of the absolute sensor positions, by leveraging a linearized RBL transformation model with small-angle approximations, the proposed bivariate Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) is designed to directly estimate the 3D rotation angles and translation distances, with an interference cancellation (IC) refinement step to further improve the angle estimation performance. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified via numerical simulations, highlighting the superior performance of the proposed method against the state-of-the-art (SotA) techniques for the rotation and translation estimation performance.

We propose new schemes for joint channel and data estimation (JCDE) and radar parameter estimation (RPE) in doubly-dispersive channels, such that integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) is enabled by user equipment (UE) independently performing JCDE, and base stations (BSs) performing RPE. The contributed JCDE and RPE schemes are designed for waveforms known to perform well in doubly-dispersive channels, under a unified model that captures the features of either legacy orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), state-of-the-art (SotA) orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS), and next-generation affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) systems. The proposed JCDE algorithm is based on a Bayesian parametric bilinear Gaussian belief propagation (PBiGaBP) framework first proposed for OTFS and here shown to apply to all aforementioned waveforms, while the RPE scheme is based on a new probabilistic data association (PDA) approach incorporating a Bernoulli-Gaussian denoising, optimized via expectation maximization (EM). Simulation results demonstrate that JCDE in AFDM systems utilizing a single pilot per block significantly outperforms the SotA alternative even if the latter is granted a substantial power advantage. Similarly, the AFDM-based RPE scheme is found to outperform the OTFS-based approach, as well as the sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) technique, regardless of the waveform used.

Index modulation (IM) is one of the key enabling technologies for beyond fifth generation (B5G) and sixth generation (6G) wireless systems, attracting attention for its inherent energy and spectral efficiency resulting from conveying information through the indexation of the resources utilized in during signal transmission. However, a remaining critical bottleneck for large-scale IM is the consequently infeasible detection complexity of combinatoric order. Therefore in this article, in order to maximally reap the advantages of IM in large scenarios, we propose a novel message passing (MP) decoder designed under the Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) framework exploiting a novel unit vector decomposition (UVD) of IM signals with purpose-derived novel probability distributions. The proposed method enjoys a low decoding complexity that is independent of previously prohibitive combinatorial factors, while still approaching the performance of unfeasible state-of-the-art (SotA) search-based methods. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated via complexity analysis and numerical results for the exemplary piloted generalized quadrature spatial modulation (GQSM) systems of truly massive sizes (up to 96 antennas).

We consider the estimation of three-dimensional (3D) radar parameters, namely, bearing or angle-of-arrival (AoA), delay or range, and Doppler shift velocity, under a mono-static multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) joint communications and radar (JCR) system based on Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) signals. In particular, we propose a novel two-step algorithm to estimate the three radar parameters sequentially, where the AoA is obtained first, followed by the estimation of range and velocity via a reduced two-dimensional (2D) grid maximum likelihood (ML) search in the delay-Doppler (DD) domain. Besides the resulting lower complexity, the decoupling of AoA and DD estimation enables the incorporation of an linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) procedure in the ML estimation of range and velocity, which are found to significantly outperform State-of-the-Art (SotA) alternatives and approach the fundamental limits of the Cramèr-Rao lower bound (CRLB) and search grid resolution.

We propose a quantum-assisted solution for the maximum likelihood detection (MLD) of generalized spatial modulation (GSM) signals. Specifically, the MLD of GSM is first formulated as a novel polynomial optimization problem, followed by the application of a quantum algorithm, namely, the Grover adaptive search. The performance in terms of query complexity of the proposed method is evaluated and compared to the classical alternative via a numerical analysis, which reveals that under fault-tolerant quantum computation, the proposed method outperforms the classical solution if the number of data symbols and the constellation size are relatively large.

We consider an uplink integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) scenario where the detection of data symbols from multiple user equipment (UEs) occurs simultaneously with a three-dimensional (3D) estimation of the environment, extracted from the scattering features present in the channel state information (CSI) and utilizing the same physical layer communications air interface, as opposed to radar technologies. By exploiting a discrete (voxelated) representation of the environment, two novel ISAC schemes are derived with purpose-built message passing (MP) rules for the joint estimation of data symbols and status (filled/empty) of the discretized environment. The first relies on a modular feedback structure in which the data symbols and the environment are estimated alternately, whereas the second leverages a bilinear inference framework to estimate both variables concurrently. Both contributed methods are shown via simulations to outperform the state-of-the-art (SotA) in accurately recovering the transmitted data as well as the 3D image of the environment. An analysis of the computational complexities of the proposed methods reveals distinct advantages of each scheme, namely, that the bilinear solution exhibits a superior robustness to short pilots and channel blockages, while the alternating solution offers lower complexity with large number of UEs and superior performance in ideal conditions.

In this paper, we propose a novel joint activity and channel estimation (JACE) algorithm for grant-free extra large MIMO (XL-MIMO) systems subject to spatial non-stationarity phenomena by means of a Bayesian bilinear inference framework. In XL-MIMO systems, the signal from each user is visible only by a small portion of its antenna arrays, which are typically distributed over the surface of a certain structure. The sporadic user activity due to grant-free access, as well as the spatial non-stationarity, jointly imposes a challenging JACE problem involving a nested Bernoulli-Gaussian random variable. In order to address this issue, we decompose the latter into a bilinear inference problem of two independent random quantities, deriving novel message passing rules based on Gaussian approximation and bilinear inference. Performance evaluation via software simulations is offered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, which achieves the Genie-aided ideal estimation performance.

We consider quadrature spatial modulation (QSM) schemes, which achieve high spectral efficiency (SE) via the dispersion of a relatively small number$P$of$M$-ary modulated symbols over a large number of combinations of$n_{T}$transmit antennas and$T$transmit instances. In particular, we design a new space-time block code (STBC)-based scalable QSM scheme combining high SE with maximum diversity and optimum coding gains. Deriving a closed-form expression for the optimum SE, we show that scaling the size$T$with$n_{T}$not only is required to achieve SE optimality, but also results in further gains in bit error rate (BER) performance. Building on the latter optimal parameterization, a fully optimized scalable QSM (OS-QSM) transmitter design is then obtained by introducing a new dispersion matrix index selection algorithm that ensures even utilization of spatial-temporal resources. Finally, a new greedy boxed iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm (GB-ISTA) QSM receiver is proposed, which exploits the inherent sparsity of QSM signals and while detecting spatially and digitally modulated bits in a greedy fashion. The resulting low complexity of the new receiver, which is linear on$n_{T}$, enables the utilization of OS-QSM in systems of previously prohibitive dimensions.