This paper proposes a novel routing protocol for OppNets called MLProph, which uses machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely decision tree and neural networks, to determine the probability of successful deliveries. The ML model is trained by using various factors such as the predictability value inherited from the PROPHET routing scheme, node popularity, node's power consumption, speed, and location. Simulation results show that MLProph outperforms PROPHET+, a probabilistic-based routing protocol for OppNets, in terms of number of successful deliveries, dropped messages, overhead, and hop count, at the cost of small increases in buffer time and buffer occupancy values.

Recently, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) using short-packets has been proposed to fulfill the stringent requirements regarding reliability and latency of emerging applications in 5G and beyond networks. In addition, multiple-input multiple-output non-orthogonal multiple access (MIMO NOMA) is a potential candidate to improve the spectral efficiency, reliability, latency, and connectivity of wireless systems. In this paper, we investigate short-packet communications (SPC) in a multiuser downlink MIMO NOMA system over Nakagami- m fading, and propose two antenna-user selection methods considering two clusters of users having different priority levels. In contrast to the widely-used long data-packet assumption, the SPC analysis requires the redesign of the communication protocols and novel performance metrics. Given this context, we analyze the SPC performance of MIMO NOMA systems using the average block error rate (BLER) and minimum blocklength, instead of the conventional metrics such as ergodic capacity and outage capacity. More specifically, to characterize the system performance regarding SPC, asymptotic (in the high signal-to-noise ratio regime) and approximate closed-form expressions of the average BLER at the users are derived. Based on the asymptotic behavior of the average BLER, an analysis of the diversity order, minimum blocklength, and optimal power allocation is carried out. The achieved results show that MIMO NOMA can serve multiple users simultaneously using a smaller blocklength compared with MIMO OMA, thus demonstrating the benefits of MIMO NOMA for SPC in minimizing the transmission latency. Furthermore, our results indicate that the proposed methods not only improve the BLER performance, but also guarantee full diversity gains for the respective users.

Grant-free non-orthogonal multiple access (GF-NOMA) has emerged as a promising access technology for the fifth generation and beyond wireless networks that enable ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) to ensure low access latency and high connectivity density. Furthermore, designing energy-efficient (EE) resource allocation strategies is a crucial aspect of future cellular system development. Taking these goals into account, this paper proposes an EE sub-channel and power allocation strategy for URLLC-enabled GF-NOMA (URLLC-GF-NOMA) systems based on multi-agent (MA) deep reinforcement learning (MADRL). In particular, the URLLC-GF-NOMA methods using MA dueling double deep Q network (MA3DQN), MA double deep Q network (MA2DQN), and MA deep Q network (MADQN) techniques are designed to enable users to select the most appropriate sub-channel and transmission power for their communications. The aim is to build an efficient MADRL-based solution, ensuring rapid convergence with small signaling overhead, to maximize the network EE while fulfilling the URLLC requirements of all users. Simulation results show that the MADQN and MA2DQN methods, which have lower complexity than MA3DQN, are more appropriate for the URLLC-GF-NOMA systems under consideration. Moreover, our proposed methods exhibit superior convergence characteristics, a reduction in signaling overhead, and enhanced EE performance compared to other benchmark strategies.

A heterogeneous wireless network (HetNet), which combines multiple cooperating radio access technologies in an overlapping structure, is a communication system that has been recognized as an efficient way to meet the increasing traffic demand in broadband wireless networks. In this paper, we exploit the network cooperation in HetNets to propose two joint radio resource management (JRRM) schemes that improve energy savings while satisfying the system quality-of-service (QoS) performance requirements. First, we present an optimal QoS-aware energy-efficient JRRM scheme, which is formulated as a semi-Markov decision process model, and provide the optimal control policy for the HetNet under analysis. Second, we present an implementation-friendly QoS-aware energy-efficient JRRM scheme that utilizes a threshold on the macrocell radio resource occupancy to trigger the switching-on/off procedure of the base transceiver station resources, as well as a load-balancing procedure to minimize the service disruptions that may occur because of radio resource shortage and to reduce power consumption during the HetNet operation. This JRRM scheme is analyzed by means of a multidimensional continuous-time Markov chain model. Third, we devise an algorithm to determine the threshold setting in the implementation-friendly JRRM scheme according to a desirable power saving level that is prespecified by the mobile network operator. Numerical results show that the proposed schemes achieve substantial energy savings while keeping satisfactory performance levels.