Energy-efficient subcarrier allocation in SC-FDMA wireless networks based on multilateral model of bargaining

In this paper the problem of subcarrier and power allocation in multiuser single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) wireless networks is addressed. Given the inherent complexity of the corresponding joint optimization problem, in this paper we propose an approach where we treat the problem in three consecutive phases. First, the subcarrier allocation in terms of number of subcarriers allocated per user is obtained, by adopting a multilateral bargaining model, i.e. Rubinstein´s bargaining model. Then, different realistic subcarrier mapping policies are proposed, towards determining the specific subcarrier assignment. Subsequently, an optimization problem with respect to user´s uplink transmission power is formulated and solved, in order to determine the optimal power allocation per subcarrier assigned to each user in the previous phases. Emphasizing on energy efficiency, users´ satisfaction is formulated through a properly defined utility-based framework that reflects the tradeoff between users´ actual uplink throughput performance and their corresponding energy consumption. The performance evaluation of the proposed approach is achieved via modeling and simulation, and its superiority against other existing alternatives is demonstrated.