This paper studies cache-aided wireless networks in the presence of active intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) from an information-theoretic perspective. Specifically, we explore interference management in a cache-aided wireless network assisted by an active IRS, to enhance the achievable degrees of freedom (DoF). To this end, we jointly design the content placement, delivery phase, and phase shifts of the IRS and propose a one-shot achievable scheme. Our scheme exploits transmitters' cooperation, cache contents (as side information), interference alignment, and IRS capabilities, adapting to the network's parameters. We derive the achievable one-shot sum-DoF for different sizes of cache memories, network configurations, and numbers of IRS elements. Our results highlight the potential of deploying an IRS in cache-aided wireless communication systems, underscoring the enhancement of achievable DoF for various parameter regimes, particularly when the sizes of the caches (especially at the transmitters) are inadequate. Notably, we show that access to an IRS with a sufficient number of elements enables the achievement of the maximum possible DoF for various parameter regimes of interest.

翻译：本文从信息论角度研究了存在主动智能反射面（IRS）的缓存辅助无线网络。具体而言，我们探索了主动IRS辅助的缓存无线网络中的干扰管理，以提升可实现的自由度（DoF）。为此，我们联合设计了内容放置、传输阶段以及IRS的相位偏移，并提出了一种单次可达方案。我们的方案利用发射机协作、缓存内容（作为边信息）、干扰对齐以及IRS能力，以适应网络参数。我们推导了在不同缓存容量、网络配置和IRS单元数量下可实现的单次和自由度。我们的结果突显了在缓存无线通信系统中部署IRS的潜力，强调了其在多种参数范围内对可实现自由度的提升，尤其是在缓存容量（特别是在发射机端）不足的情况下。值得注意的是，我们表明，接入具有足够数量单元的IRS能够为多种关注参数范围实现最大可能的自由度。