The latest advances in several emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, privacy-preserving algorithms used in localization and positioning systems, cloud computing and computer vision all have great potential in facilitating social distancing. Benefits range from supporting people to work from home to monitoring micro- and macro- movements such as contact tracing apps using Bluetooth, tracking the movement and transportation level of a city and wireless positioning systems to help people keep a safe distance by alerting them when they are too close to each other or to avoid congestion. However, implementing such technologies in practical scenarios still faces various challenges. This book aims to lay the foundations of how these technologies could be adopted to realize and facilitate social distancing to better manage pandemics and future outbreaks. Starting with basic concepts, models and practical technology-based social distancing scenarios, the authors present enabling wireless technologies and solutions which could be widely adopted to encourage social distancing. They include symptom prediction, detection and monitoring of quarantined people and contact tracing. In the future, smart infrastructures for next-generation wireless systems should incorporate a pandemic mode in their standard architecture and design.

Deep Reinforcement Learning for Wireless Communications and Networking Comprehensive guide to Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) as applied to wireless communication systems Deep Reinforcement Learning for Wireless Communications and Networking presents an overview of the development of DRL while providing fundamental knowledge about theories, formulation, design, learning models, algorithms and implementation of DRL together with a particular case study to practice. The book also covers diverse applications of DRL to address various problems in wireless networks, such as caching, offloading, resource sharing, and security. The authors discuss open issues by introducing some advanced DRL approaches to address emerging issues in wireless communications and networking. Covering new advanced models of DRL, e.g., deep dueling architecture and generative adversarial networks, as well as emerging problems considered in wireless networks, e.g., ambient backscatter communication, intelligent reflecting surfaces and edge intelligence, this is the first comprehensive book studying applications of DRL for wireless networks that presents the state-of-the-art research in architecture, protocol, and application design. Deep Reinforcement Learning for Wireless Communications and Networking covers specific topics such as: Deep reinforcement learning models, covering deep learning, deep reinforcement learning, and models of deep reinforcement learning Physical layer applications covering signal detection, decoding, and beamforming, power and rate control, and physical-layer security Medium access control (MAC) layer applications, covering resource allocation, channel access, and user/cell association Network layer applications, covering traffic routing, network classification, and network slicing With comprehensive coverage of an exciting and noteworthy new technology, Deep Reinforcement Learning for Wireless Communications and Networking is an essential learning resource for researchers and communications engineers, along with developers and entrepreneurs in autonomous systems, who wish to harness this technology in practical applications.