Normal Graphs for Downlink Multiuser MIMO Scheduling

Inspired by the success of the low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes in the field of error-control coding, in this paper we propose transforming the downlink multiuser multiple-input multiple-output scheduling problem into an LDPC-like problem using the normal graph. Based on the normal graph framework, soft information, which indicates the probability that each user will be scheduled to transmit packets at the access point through a specified angle-frequency sub-channel, is exchanged among the local processors to iteratively optimize the multiuser transmission schedule. Computer simulations show that the proposed algorithm can efficiently schedule simultaneous multiuser transmission which then increases the overall channel utilization and reduces the average packet delay.