# pFedWN: A Personalized Federated Learning Framework for D2D Wireless Networks with Heterogeneous Data

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.09822 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.09822/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 29 of its 56 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 16 Jan 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 29 of 29)

- [Communication-Efficient Learning of Deep Networks from Decentralized Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.05629/) (2016)
- [On the Convergence of FedAvg on Non-IID Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.02189/) (2019)
- [Tackling the Objective Inconsistency Problem in Heterogeneous Federated Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.07481/) (2020)
- [Ensemble Distillation for Robust Model Fusion in Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.07242/) (2020)
- [Federated Multi-Task Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1705.10467/) (2017)
- [Personalized Federated Learning with Moreau Envelopes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.08848/) (2020)
- [An Efficient Framework for Clustered Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.04088/) (2020)
- [Adaptive Personalized Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.13461/) (2020)
- [Personalized Federated Learning: A Meta-Learning Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.07948/) (2020)
- [Personalized Cross-Silo Federated Learning on Non-IID Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.03797/) (2020)
- [A Joint Learning and Communications Framework for Federated Learning over Wireless Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1909.07972/) (2019)
- [Federated Multi-Task Learning under a Mixture of Distributions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.10252/) (2021)
- [Federated Learning over Wireless Fading Channels](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.09769/) (2019)
- [Client Selection and Bandwidth Allocation in Wireless Federated Learning Networks: A Long-Term Perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.04314/) (2020)
- [Federated Learning over Wireless Networks: Convergence Analysis and Resource Allocation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.13067/) (2019)
- [Joint Device Scheduling and Resource Allocation for Latency Constrained Wireless Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.07174/) (2020)
- [Client Selection in Federated Learning: Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.01549/) (2022)
- [Wireless Communications for Collaborative Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.02499/) (2020)
- [Optimality and Stability in Federated Learning: A Game-theoretic Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.09580/) (2021)
- [Interference Management for Over-the-Air Federated Learning in Multi-Cell Wireless Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.02398/) (2022)
- [Connectivity-Aware Semi-Decentralized Federated Learning over Time-Varying D2D Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08988/) (2023)
- [Edge-Native Intelligence for 6G Communications Driven by Federated Learning: A Survey of Trends and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.07392/) (2021)
- [Find Your Friends: Personalized Federated Learning with the Right Collaborators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.06597/) (2022)
- [Resource Allocation of Federated Learning for the Metaverse with Mobile Augmented Reality](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.08705/) (2022)
- [Channel and Gradient-Importance Aware Device Scheduling for Over-the-Air Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.16854/) (2023)
- [Dynamic D2D-Assisted Federated Learning over O-RAN: Performance Analysis, MAC Scheduler, and Asymmetric User Selection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.06324/) (2024)
- [How to Collaborate: Towards Maximizing the Generalization Performance in Cross-Silo Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.13236/) (2024)
- [Efficient Cluster Selection for Personalized Federated Learning: A Multi-Armed Bandit Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.19069/) (2023)
- [Optimizing NOMA Transmissions to Advance Federated Learning in Vehicular Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.03446/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Decentralized Low-Rank Fine-Tuning of Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.15361/) (2025)
- [Bayes-Split-Edge: Bayesian Optimization for Constrained Collaborative Inference in Wireless Edge Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.23503/) (2025)
- [Partially-Observable Transmission Control for UAV-Enabled Federated Learning in IoT Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.00855/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Traditional Federated Learning (FL) approaches often struggle with data heterogeneity across clients, leading to suboptimal model performance for individual clients. To address this issue, Personalized Federated Learning (PFL) emerges as a solution to the challenges posed by non-independent and identically distributed (non-IID) and unbalanced data across clients. Furthermore, in most existing decentralized machine learning works, a perfect communication channel is considered for model parameter transmission between clients and servers. However, decentralized PFL over wireless links introduces new challenges, such as resource allocation and interference management. To overcome these challenges, we formulate a joint optimization problem that incorporates the underlying device-to-device (D2D) wireless channel conditions into a server-free PFL approach. The proposed method, dubbed pFedWN, optimizes the learning performance for each client while accounting for the variability in D2D wireless channels. To tackle the formulated problem, we divide it into two sub-problems: PFL neighbor selection and PFL weight assignment. The PFL neighbor selection is addressed through channel-aware neighbor selection within unlicensed spectrum bands such as ISM bands. Next, to assign PFL weights, we utilize the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method to evaluate the similarity between clients' data and obtain optimal weight distribution among the chosen PFL neighbors. Empirical results show that pFedWN provides efficient and personalized learning performance with non-IID and unbalanced datasets. Furthermore, it outperforms the existing FL and PFL methods in terms of learning efficacy and robustness, particularly under dynamic and unpredictable wireless channel conditions.