A Cascade ISAC Framework for RIS-assisted Asymmetric RF/VLC Systems
Leoni C, Papanikolaou VK, Vegni AM, Schober R (2026)
Publication Type: Conference contribution
Publication year: 2026
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Conference Proceedings Title: 2026 15th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing, CSNDSP 2026
Event location: Edinburgh, GBR
ISBN: 9798331580896
DOI: 10.1109/CSNDSP68462.2026.11654377
Abstract
Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) has emerged as a key paradigm for future wireless networks by enabling spectrum- and hardware-efficient coexistence of sensing and data transmission. In parallel, the high spatial confinement and unregulated bandwidth of visible light communication (VLC) make optical ISAC particularly attractive for indoor applications. In this paper, we investigate a system- and Medium Access Control (MAC)-layer cascade-ISAC (C-ISAC) framework, where sensing outcomes explicitly support communication decisions. The proposed C-ISAC framework is applied in an indoor asymmetric Radio Frequency (RF)/VLC system, where RF is used for uplink, while VLC for downlink. An optical Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) device is also deployed to assist direct VLC links, which may suffer of link degradation. In C- ISAC framework, infrared (IR) signals are used for sensing, followed by VLC direct links for data transmission, while RIS-aided link are adopted in case of VLC direct link degradation. We analytically characterize the uplink echo throughput during the sensing phase by accounting for collisions, time-slot unavailability, and false detections. Our analysis reveals fundamental trade-offs between network load, sensing reliability, and scalability, and shows how sensing performance directly impacts link selection between direct line-of-sight (LoS) and RIS-assisted non-line-ofsight (NLoS) VLC transmissions.
Authors with CRIS profile
Vasileios Papanikolaou
Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung (IDC)
Robert Schober
Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung (IDC)
Involved external institutions
Italy (IT)How to cite
APA:
Leoni, C., Papanikolaou, V.K., Vegni, A.M., & Schober, R. (2026). A Cascade ISAC Framework for RIS-assisted Asymmetric RF/VLC Systems. In 2026 15th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing, CSNDSP 2026. Edinburgh, GBR: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..
MLA:
Leoni, Claudia, et al. "A Cascade ISAC Framework for RIS-assisted Asymmetric RF/VLC Systems." Proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing, CSNDSP 2026, Edinburgh, GBR Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026.
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