Smart Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface with Discrete Phase Shifter for Next Generation Networks

The wireless communication field is growing tremendously. To achieve the key requirements of future wireless networks, reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) assisted communication is a new research direction. RIS consists of more passive reflectors, and it can direct the signal towards the desired user by adjusting the phase shift of passive elements, hence signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be improved. The ideal RIS can compensate the channel effects completely. Practically, the compensation of each and every phase of RIS elements is very difficult. In this work, an algorithm for intelligent discrete phase shifter assisted RIS is developed. The proposed algorithm is tested with one-bit and two-bit discrete phase shifters. Discrete phase shifter maps the required phase of RIS elements to discrete phase levels and steers the beam. Through simulations, it is observed that the increase in discrete phase levels and RIS elements offers performance similar to ideal RIS assisted communication.