Evaluating Relay Beamwidth for Enhanced Coverage and Data Rates in Buoy-Assisted Maritime Communications

• Kyeongjea Lee,
• Tae -Woo Kim,
• Sungyoon Cho,
• Kiwon Kwon,
• Dong Ku Kim,

Vol. 18, No. 4, April 30, 2024
10.3837/tiis.2024.04.006, Download Paper (Free):

• Maritime Communication
• ocean channel model
• Extending Communication Coverage
• beamforming
• AF relay

Abstract

Maritime activities are on the rise, there is a growing demand for high-quality communication services that can cover larger areas. However, the transmission of high data rates to maritime users is challenging due to path loss from land base stations, which limits the transmission power. To overcome this challenge, researchers have been exploring the use of buoys in a marine environment as relays for communication technology. This paper proposes a simulation-based approach to investigate the impact of various beamwidths on communication performance when using a buoy as a relay. The objective is to determine the optimal beamwidth that yields the highest data rate for the target location. The approach is based on an offshore wave model where the direction of the buoy changes according to the height of the wave. The study investigates the performance of the relay in the downlink situation using receive beamforming, and the capacity at the user in the three-hop situation is verified using an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay that uses transmit beamforming to the user. The simulation results suggest that the beamwidth of the relay should be adjusted according to the wave conditions to optimize the data rate and relay position that satisfies a data rate superior to the direct path to the target position. Using a buoy as a relay can be a promising solution for enhancing maritime communications, and the simulation-based approach proposed in this paper can provide insights into how to optimize beamwidth for effective communication system design and implementation. In conclusion, the study results suggest that the use of buoys as relays for maritime communication is a feasible solution for expanding coverage and enhancing communication quality. The proposed simulation-based approach provides a useful tool for identifying relay beamwidths for achieving higher data rates in different wave conditions. These findings have significant implications for the design and deployment of communication systems in maritime environments.

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