Wireless energy harvesting communications: Beamforming and stochastic optimization

With RF energy harvesting and transfer capability, there is no need for the nodes in wireless and mobile networks to replace or recharge their battery using any wire. However, due to new features of RF energy harvesting and transfer, the resource allocation problem becomes more challenging, which has to take the RF energy supply into consideration. The resource allocation schemes developed for traditional wireless networks are no longer applicable due to asymmetric features (e.g., doubly near-far problem). In this article, we highlight beamforming and stochastic optimization techniques to address the asymmetric features in wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs). These studies lead to the novel design methodology to understand and optimize new types of the WPCNs. Nevertheless, the methodology is implementable in an actual network, where the prototype and system can be developed to demonstrate the feasibility and the success of using the beamforming and stochastic optimization techniques in solving the crucial issues in the WPCNs.