Driven by the visions of Internet of Things and 5G communications, recent years have seen a paradigm shift in mobile computing, from the centralized mobile cloud computing toward mobile edge computing (MEC). The main feature of MEC is to push mobile computing, network control and storage to the network edges (e.g., base stations and access points) so as to enable computation-intensive and latency-critical applications at the resource-limited mobile devices. MEC promises dramatic reduction in latency and mobile energy consumption, tackling the key challenges for materializing 5G vision. The promised gains of MEC have motivated extensive efforts in both academia and industry on developing the technology. A main thrust of MEC research is to seamlessly merge the two disciplines of wireless communications and mobile computing, resulting in a wide-range of new designs ranging from techniques for computation offloading to network architectures. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art MEC research with a focus on joint radio-and-computational resource management. We also discuss a set of issues, challenges, and future research directions for MEC research, including MEC system deployment, cache-enabled MEC, mobility management for MEC, green MEC, as well as privacy-aware MEC. Advancements in these directions will facilitate the transformation of MEC from theory to practice. Finally, we introduce recent standardization efforts on MEC as well as some typical MEC application scenarios.

A Survey on Mobile Edge Computing: The Communication Perspective

Radio frequency (RF) energy transfer and harvesting techniques have recently become alternative methods to power the next-generation wireless networks As this emerging technology enables proactive energy replenishment of wireless devices, it is advantageous in supporting applications with quality-of-service requirements In this paper, we present a comprehensive literature review on the research progresses in wireless networks with RF energy harvesting capability, which is referred to as RF energy harvesting networks (RF-EHNs) First, we present an overview of the RF-EHNs including system architecture, RF energy harvesting techniques, and existing applications Then, we present the background in circuit design as well as the state-of-the-art circuitry implementations and review the communication protocols specially designed for RF-EHNs We also explore various key design issues in the development of RF-EHNs according to the network types, ie, single-hop networks, multiantenna networks, relay networks, and cognitive radio networks Finally, we envision some open research directions

Wireless Networks With RF Energy Harvesting: A Contemporary Survey

Driven by the visions of Internet of Things and 5G communications, recent years have seen a paradigm shift in mobile computing, from the centralized Mobile Cloud Computing towards Mobile Edge Computing (MEC). The main feature of MEC is to push mobile computing, network control and storage to the network edges (e.g., base stations and access points) so as to enable computation-intensive and latency-critical applications at the resource-limited mobile devices. MEC promises dramatic reduction in latency and mobile energy consumption, tackling the key challenges for materializing 5G vision. The promised gains of MEC have motivated extensive efforts in both academia and industry on developing the technology. A main thrust of MEC research is to seamlessly merge the two disciplines of wireless communications and mobile computing, resulting in a wide-range of new designs ranging from techniques for computation offloading to network architectures. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art MEC research with a focus on joint radio-and-computational resource management. We also present a research outlook consisting of a set of promising directions for MEC research, including MEC system deployment, cache-enabled MEC, mobility management for MEC, green MEC, as well as privacy-aware MEC. Advancements in these directions will facilitate the transformation of MEC from theory to practice. Finally, we introduce recent standardization efforts on MEC as well as some typical MEC application scenarios.

Linear PA Design. Conventional High-Efficiency Amplifier Modes. Class AB PAs at GHz Frequencies. Practical Design of Class AB PAs. Overdrive and the Class F Mode. Switching Mode Amplifiers for RF Applications. Switching PA Modes at GHz Frequencies. Signals, Modulation Systems, and PA Nonlinearities. Efficiency Enhancement Techniques. Power Amplifier Bias Circuit Design. Power Amplifier Architecture. PA Linearization Techniques.

RF Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications

Wireless power technology offers the promise of cutting the last cord, allowing users to seamlessly recharge mobile devices as easily as data are transmitted through the air. Initial work on the use of magnetically coupled resonators for this purpose has shown promising results. We present new analysis that yields critical insight into the design of practical systems, including the introduction of key figures of merit that can be used to compare systems with vastly different geometries and operating conditions. A circuit model is presented along with a derivation of key system concepts, such as frequency splitting, the maximum operating distance (critical coupling), and the behavior of the system as it becomes undercoupled. This theoretical model is validated against measured data and shows an excellent average coefficient of determination of 0.9875. An adaptive frequency tuning technique is demonstrated, which compensates for efficiency variations encountered when the transmitter-to-receiver distance and/or orientation are varied. The method demonstrated in this paper allows a fixed-load receiver to be moved to nearly any position and/or orientation within the range of the transmitter and still achieve a near-constant efficiency of over 70% for a range of 0-70 cm.

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Analysis, Experimental Results, and Range Adaptation of Magnetically Coupled Resonators for Wireless Power Transfer

The history of power transmission by radiowaves is reviewed from Heinrich Hertz to the present time with emphasis upon the free-space microwave power transmission era beginning in 1958. The history of the technology is developed in terms of its relationship to the intended applications. These include microwave powered aircraft and the Solar Power Satellite concept.

The History of Power Transmission by Radio Waves

The general principles and special components of beamed microwave power transmission systems are outlined, and their application to the space program is discussed. For a beamed system starting with a DC source of power, converting it to a microwave beam for transmission through space, and ending with DC power output at the receiving end, an experimentally measured and certified DC-to-DC efficiency of 54% has been achieved. The application that is discussed in detail is a low-earth-orbit-to-geostationary-orbit (LEO to GEO) transportation system that depends on vehicles propelled by electric thrusters whose power is supplied by a microwave beam originating at the earth's surface. A scenario for such a system is chosen, and the performance results are presented. The advantages of the all electronic system over a chemically propelled system are enumerated. The principles of space propulsion, particularly as they relate to electric propulsion, are outlined. Key components at the terminals of the system are discussed. Environmental considerations are discussed. >

Beamed microwave power transmission and its application to space

Microwave to dc converter

This paper describes two different experiments involving a microwavebeam and a helicopter. The first experiment utilized a CW microwavebeam to supply a small helicopter with all of the power that it neededfor its propulsion. The second experiment utilized an unmodulated CW microwave beam for supplying a position reference to the helicopterer with respect to roll, pitch, yaw, and horizontal translation. Thesecond experiment also involved the construction of a fully articulatedhelicopter and a complete control system carried on board theli-helicopter. The paper also attempts to relate the small scale experimentsand the present state of component technology to practical, full scalemicrowave-powered helicopter systems that can operate at altitudesof up to 50 000 feet.

William C. Brown

Papers

The History of Power Transmission by Radio Waves

Beamed microwave power transmission and its application to space

Microwave to dc converter

Experiments Involving a Microwave Beam to Power and Position a Helicopter

The history of wireless power transmission