High frequency communication network with diversity: System structure and key enabling techniques

High frequency sky wave communication suffers from poor performance including poor link quality and low link success rate. To enhance performance, diversity technology is proposed in the high frequency communication network (HFCN) in this paper. First, we present the benefits and the challenges by introducing diversity technology into the existing HFCN. Secondly, to exploit the benefits fully and overcome the challenges, we propose a system structure suitable for deploying diversity technology in HFCN in large scale, based on the cloud radio access network and software defined network. Moreover, we present a general structure for the real-time updating frequency management system that plays a more important role especially when resource consuming (e.g., frequency) diversity technology is deployed. Thirdly, we investigate the key techniques enabling diversity technology deployment. Finally, we point out the future research directions to help the HFCN with diversity work more efficiently and intelligently.