Cross-layer performance of channel scheduling mechanisms in small-cell networks

Small-cell networks (SCNs) have emerged as a potential solution to the rapidly increasing demand for high data rates. The base stations (also referred to as access nodes) of the small cells provide service to a group of users through the access link and they are connected to the core/global network via a backhaul link. In this paper, we develop a queuing analytical model that considers the channel scheduling mechanisms in both links, the time varying nature of the channels as well as bursty packet arrivals. For the access link we consider the so-called max rate/opportunistic channel scheduling mechanism, while for the backhaul link we consider three different channel scheduling mechanisms, namely, fixed channel scheduling, round-robin channel scheduling and an access-link dependent channel scheduling mechanisms. Our developed analytical model is useful to measure various data link layer performances such as packet loss probability and average queuing delay. These performance measures can be used to determine which of the scheduling mechanisms considered for the backhaul link provides the best performance.