QoS-Aware Resource Allocation for Mixed Multicast and Unicast Traffic in OFDMA Networks

This paper focuses on the subchannel and power allocation for mixed multicast and unicast traffic in wireless OFDMA networks, where the multicast data is divided into basic layer and enhancement layer data. Our goal is to maximize the network total throughput with a total power constraint while guaranteeing the minimum rate requirement of both the unicast and muticast traffic. A heuristic allocation algorithm is proposed, which combines a cost-based subchannel allocation (CSA) with the traditional water filling (TWF) and an advanced water filling (AWF). The TWF is used for the subchannels allocated to satisfy the rate requirements of each unicast traffic and multicast traffic while the AWF is used for the remaining subchannels. Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm can improve the network throughput and outage probability compared with other algorithms.