# Over-the-air Function Computation in Sensor Networks

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.02307 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1612.02307/

## Key facts

- Cited by 11 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 7 Dec 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 11 of 11)

- [Federated Learning over Wireless Device-to-Device Networks: Algorithms and Convergence Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.12704/) (2021)
- [A Survey on Over-the-Air Computation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.11350/) (2022)
- [A Survey on Integrated Sensing, Communication, and Computation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.08074/) (2024)
- [Federated Learning over Wireless Networks: A Band-limited Coordinated Descent Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.07972/) (2021)
- [Over-the-Air Federated Learning and Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.10089/) (2023)
- [Over-the-Air Federated Learning with Joint Adaptive Computation and Power Control](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.05867/) (2022)
- [Over-the-Air Federated Learning with Retransmissions (Extended Version)](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.10267/) (2021)
- [Secure Over-the-Air Computation using Zero-Forced Artificial Noise](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.04288/) (2022)
- [PolarAir: A Compressed Sensing Scheme for Over-the-Air Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.10110/) (2023)
- [Over-the-Air Computation in OFDM Systems with Imperfect Channel State Information](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.05357/) (2023)
- [Communication-Efficient Federated Learning over Wireless Channels via Gradient Sketching](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.23424/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Many sensor applications are interested in computing a function over measurements (e.g., sum, average, max) as opposed to collecting all sensor data. Today, such data aggregation is done in a cluster-head. Sensor nodes transmit their values sequentially to a cluster-head node, which calculates the aggregation function and forwards it to the base station. In contrast, this paper explores the possibility of computing a desired function over the air. We devise a solution that enables sensors to transmit coherently over the wireless medium so that the cluster-head directly receives the value of the desired function. We present analysis and preliminary results that demonstrate that such a design yield a large improvement in network throughput.