2022, Volume 8, Issue 1
Engineering >> 2022, Volume 8, Issue 1 doi: 10.1016/j.eng.2021.11.003
Toward Wisdom-Evolutionary and Primitive-Concise 6G: A New Paradigm of Semantic Communication Networks
a State Key Laboratory of Networking and Switching Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
b Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen 518066, China
c Key Laboratory of Universal Wireless Communications, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
d Key Laboratory of Trustworthy Distributed Computing and Service, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
e National Engineering Laboratory for Mobile Network Technologies, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
f School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
g The School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
h College of Electronic Science and Technology, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
i School of Humanities, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
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Abstract
The sixth generation (6G) mobile networks will reshape the world by offering instant, efficient, and intelligent hyper-connectivity, as envisioned by the previously proposed Ubiquitous-X 6G networks. Such hyper-massive and global connectivity will introduce tremendous challenges into the operation and management of 6G networks, calling for revolutionary theories and technological innovations. To this end, we propose a new route to boost network capabilities toward a wisdom-evolutionary and primitive-concise network (WePCN) vision for the Ubiquitous-X 6G network. In particular, we aim to concretize the evolution path toward the WePCN by first conceiving a new semantic representation framework, namely semantic base, and then establishing an intelligent and efficient semantic communication (IE-SC) network architecture. In the IE-SC architecture, a semantic intelligence plane is employed to interconnect the semantic-empowered physical-bearing layer, network protocol layer, and application-intent layer via semantic information flows. The proposed architecture integrates artificial intelligence and network technologies to enable intelligent interactions among various communication objects in 6G. It features a lower bandwidth requirement, less redundancy, and more accurate intent identification. We also present a brief review of recent advances in semantic communications and highlight potential use cases, complemented by a range of open challenges for 6G.
Keywords
6G ; Semantic information ; Semantic communication ; Intelligent communication
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