迈向6G智简网络——基于语义通信的网络新范式
张平 , 许文俊 , 高晖 , 牛凯 , 许晓东 , 秦晓琦 , 袁彩霞 , 秦志金 , 赵海涛 , 魏急波 , 张钫炜
工程(英文) ›› 2022, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (1) : 60 -73.
迈向6G智简网络——基于语义通信的网络新范式
Toward Wisdom-Evolutionary and Primitive-Concise 6G: A New Paradigm of Semantic Communication Networks
第六代(6G)移动网络将通过'以实创虚、基虚利实'新愿景实现虚实交融、世界重塑,该愿景已在我们前期工作提出的Ubiquitous-X 6G网络中进行构思并呈现。6G网络超大规模的全局性连接将给网络的运营和管理带来巨大挑战,亟待革命性的理论和技术创新。为此,本文提出了推动Ubiquitous-X 6G网络迈向'智慧演化和原生简约',即'智简'网络(wisdom-evolutionary and primitive-concise network, WePCN)的新途径——以深入挖掘信息的语义层次内涵为主线,首先提出了全新的语义表征框架模型,即语义基(semantic base),进而构建了面向'智简'6G的'一面-三层'智能高效语义通信(intelligent and efficient semantic communication, IE-SC)网络架构。IE-SC网络架构通过语义智能平面以及基于语义基表征的语义信息流,将语义赋能的物理承载层、网络协议层和应用意图层相互连接,使网络具备更低的带宽需求、更低的冗余度、更准确的通信意图识别等能力。IE-SC网络架构赋能人工智能和通信网络技术的一体化,实现6G网络中多种通信对象间的智能信息交互。此外,本文还简要介绍了语义通信的新进展,指出了语义通信的潜在应用方向、开放性问题与挑战。
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.
第六代(6G)移动通信 / 语义信息 / 语义通信 / 智能通信
6G / Semantic information / Semantic communication / Intelligent communication
| Communication‒object | Definition/concept | Attribute | Intelligence level | Characteristic/role | Capability | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | The main entity of the physical world | The user of communication services | High | Play a prime role in the human‒machine‒thing‒genie loop | Cognition | • Human-centered communications • Human-X API |
| Machine | A device that can actively initiate the communication process | The provider/user of communication services | Moderate | Extend the physical/mental powers of humans | Communication | • Human-X API • Machine-X API |
| Thing | An object that is passively involved in communication processes | The provider of communication services | Low | Complement the sensing power of humans | Sensing | • Internet of Things • Perceptual computing |
| Genie | The main entity of the digital world | The provider/user of communication services | Super | The fusing of human‒machine‒thing | Intelligence | • AI-empowered super-agent of physical communication objects |
| Performance metric\architecture | Semantic communication architecture | Syntactic communication architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity of computation and implementation | High | Low |
| Delay | Low | High |
| Bandwidth | Low | High |
| Accuracy | High | Low |
| Throughpu | High | Low |
| Source | Source | Frame rate (fps) | Channel | Channel coding | Code rate (Mbps) | LPIPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original video | 1920 × 1080 | 25 | 3 dB AWGNC | (660, 440) LDPC | 415 | — |
| H.264 encoding | 1920 × 1080 | 25 | 3 dB AWGNC | (660, 440) LDPC | 12.44 | 0.15 |
| Semantic encoding | 1920 × 1080 | 25 | 3 dB AWGNC | (660, 440) LDPC | 2.49 | 0.14 |
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