Cooperative NOMA Meets Emerging Technologies: A Survey for Next-Generation Wireless Networks

2025-05-22

AI Summary

To address the 6G requirements of ultra-massive connectivity, native intelligence, and cross-domain convergence, this work proposes a deep integration framework synergizing Cooperative Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (C-NOMA) with enabling technologies including RF energy harvesting, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), cognitive radio, integrated space-air-ground networks, and semantic communication for integrated sensing, communication, and computation. We establish, for the first time, a unified cross-technology C-NOMA collaboration model, design protocol-level joint access mechanisms, multi-dimensional resource deployment strategies, and application orchestration paradigms tailored to digital twin, XR, and e-health. By integrating model-driven, heuristic, and AI-based optimization approaches, we systematically survey advances in C-NOMA relay architectures, modeling, performance bounds, and optimization, while identifying key challenges in standardization, security, and cross-layer design. This work consolidates C-NOMA’s role as a foundational enabler for intelligent 6G networks.

Technology Category

Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor FusionCognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: ApplicationsGame Theory and Economic Paradigms: Cooperative Game Theory

Application Category

Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital healthSearch and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and multi-modal RAGSemantics and Knowledge: Methods to enhance, augment, integrate or synergize semantic models such as knowledge graphs and LLMs

Abstract

The emerging demands of sixth-generation wireless networks, such as ultra-connectivity, native intelligence, and cross-domain convergence, are bringing renewed focus to cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (C-NOMA) as a fundamental enabler of scalable, efficient, and intelligent communication systems. C-NOMA builds on the core benefits of NOMA by leveraging user cooperation and relay strategies to enhance spectral efficiency, coverage, and energy performance. This article presents a unified and forward-looking survey on the integration of C-NOMA with key enabling technologies, including radio frequency energy harvesting, cognitive radio networks, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, space-air-ground integrated networks, and integrated sensing and communication-assisted semantic communication. Foundational principles and relaying protocols are first introduced to establish the technical relevance of C-NOMA. Then, a focused investigation is conducted into protocol-level synergies, architectural models, and deployment strategies across these technologies. Beyond integration, this article emphasizes the orchestration of C-NOMA across future application domains such as digital twins, extended reality, and e-health. In addition, it provides an extensive and in-depth review of recent literature, categorized by relaying schemes, system models, performance metrics, and optimization paradigms, including model-based, heuristic, and AI-driven approaches. Finally, open challenges and future research directions are outlined, spanning standardization, security, and cross-layer design, positioning C-NOMA as a key pillar of intelligent next-generation network architectures.

Problem

• Enhancing spectral efficiency and coverage via cooperative NOMA
• Integrating C-NOMA with emerging wireless technologies
• Addressing challenges in next-gen network standardization and security

Innovation

• C-NOMA leverages user cooperation and relay strategies
• Integrates C-NOMA with RF energy harvesting and cognitive radio
• Orchestrates C-NOMA for digital twins and e-health