Multi-mode Autonomous Communication Systems

In this paper, we study the problem of designing resource allocation algorithms for communication systems equipped with multiple different communication hardwares. We consider a point-to-multipoint scenario, in which communication occurs between an access point and a series of agents. Both the agents and the access point are equipped with multiple hardware (e.g., VHF, UHF, and mmWave antennas). Under this multi-mode setting, we aim to jointly optimize the power allocation along with the mode selection such that the rate requirements of the agents are satisfied. We pose this resource allocation problem under a stochastic optimization framework, and show that the problem exhibits null duality gap. To obtain the optimal solution to the problem, we resort to a primal-dual algorithm, which can be run in an online fashion. Numerical results show that agents employing the proposed algorithm are capable of adapting their transmission mode in complex environments.