Performance Analysis for Self-Sustainable Intelligent Metasurface Based Reliable and Secure Communication Strategies

ObjectiveThe Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) is generally powered by a wired method, and its power cable functions as a “tail” that restricts RIS maneuverability during outdoor deployment. A Self-Sustainable Intelligent Metasurface (SIM) that integrates RIS with energy harvesting is examined, and an amplified SIM architecture is presented. The reliability and security of SIM communication are analyzed, and the analysis provides a basis for its rational deployment in practical design.MethodsThe static wireless-powered and dynamic wireless-powered SIM communication strategies are proposed to address the energy and information outage challenges faced by SIM. The communication mechanism of the un-amplified SIM and amplified SIM (U-SIM and A-SIM) under these two strategies is examined. New integrated performance metrics of energy and information, termed joint outage probability and joint intercept probability, are proposed to evaluate the strategies from the perspectives of communication reliability and communication security.Results and DiscussionsThe simulations evaluate the effect of several critical parameters on the communication reliability and security of each strategy. The results indicate that: (1) Compared to alternative schemes, at low base station transmit power, A-SIM achieves optimal reliability under the dynamic wireless-powered strategy and optimal security under the static wireless-powered strategy (Figs. 2 and 3). (2) Under the same strategy type, increasing the number of elements at SIM generally enhances reliability but reduces security. With a large number of elements, U-SIM maintains higher reliability than A-SIM, while A-SIM achieves higher security than U-SIM (Figs. 4 and 5). (3) An optimal amplification factor maximizes communication reliability for SIM systems (Fig. 6).ConclusionsThe results show that the dynamic wireless-powered strategy can mitigate the reduction in the reliability of SIM communication caused by insufficient energy. Although the amplified noise of A-SIM decreases reliability, it can improve security. Under the same static or dynamic strategies, as the number of elements at SIM increases, A-SIM provides better security, whereas U-SIM provides better reliability.