Wi-Fi technology has evolved significantly since its introduction in 1997,advancing to Wi-Fi 6 as the latest standard,with Wi-Fi 7 currently under development.Despite these advancements,integrating machine learning in...Wi-Fi technology has evolved significantly since its introduction in 1997,advancing to Wi-Fi 6 as the latest standard,with Wi-Fi 7 currently under development.Despite these advancements,integrating machine learning into Wi-Fi networks remains challenging,especially in decentralized environments with multiple access points(mAPs).This paper is a short review that summarizes the potential applications of federated reinforcement learning(FRL)across eight key areas of Wi-Fi functionality,including channel access,link adaptation,beamforming,multi-user transmissions,channel bonding,multi-link operation,spatial reuse,and multi-basic servic set(multi-BSS)coordination.FRL is highlighted as a promising framework for enabling decentralized training and decision-making while preserving data privacy.To illustrate its role in practice,we present a case study on link activation in a multi-link operation(MLO)environment with multiple APs.Through theoretical discussion and simulation results,the study demonstrates how FRL can improve performance and reliability,paving the way for more adaptive and collaborative Wi-Fi networks in the era of Wi-Fi 7 and beyond.展开更多
基金funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research(DSR)at King Abdulaziz University,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia,grant number RG-2-611-42(A.O.A.).
文摘Wi-Fi technology has evolved significantly since its introduction in 1997,advancing to Wi-Fi 6 as the latest standard,with Wi-Fi 7 currently under development.Despite these advancements,integrating machine learning into Wi-Fi networks remains challenging,especially in decentralized environments with multiple access points(mAPs).This paper is a short review that summarizes the potential applications of federated reinforcement learning(FRL)across eight key areas of Wi-Fi functionality,including channel access,link adaptation,beamforming,multi-user transmissions,channel bonding,multi-link operation,spatial reuse,and multi-basic servic set(multi-BSS)coordination.FRL is highlighted as a promising framework for enabling decentralized training and decision-making while preserving data privacy.To illustrate its role in practice,we present a case study on link activation in a multi-link operation(MLO)environment with multiple APs.Through theoretical discussion and simulation results,the study demonstrates how FRL can improve performance and reliability,paving the way for more adaptive and collaborative Wi-Fi networks in the era of Wi-Fi 7 and beyond.