Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) based beamforming and/or modulation

A method implemented by a transmitter device, the method comprising:

• controlling a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) to generate one or more modulated symbols, wherein the RIS comprises a plurality of separately activable and controllable portions, an amplitude of the one or more modulated symbols is generated by activating one or more of the plurality of portions of the RIS, and a phase of the one or more modulated symbols is generated based on phase shifts applied by the one or more activated portions of the RIS;
• transmitting the one or more modulated symbols using the RIS;
• and
• receiving feedback that indicates preferred portions of the RIS for transmission.

A transmitter device comprising:

• a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), the RIS comprising a plurality of sections, each of the plurality of sections comprising separately activable and controllable portions;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive feedback that indicates preferred portions of the RIS for transmission;
• transmit a first modulated symbol using a first section of the plurality of sections of the RIS, wherein the processor is configured to generate an amplitude of the first modulated symbol by activating one or more portions of a plurality of portions of the first section of the RIS, and the processor is configured to generate a phase of the first modulated symbol by controlling the RIS to apply one or more phase shifts to the one or more activated portions of the first section of the RIS;
• and
• transmit a second modulated symbol using a second section of the plurality of sections of the RIS, wherein the processor is configured to generate an amplitude of the second modulated symbol by activating one or more portions of a plurality of portions of the second section of the RIS, and the processor is configured to generate a phase of the second modulated symbol by controlling the RIS to apply one or more phase shifts to the one or more activated portions of the second section of the RIS.