Joint scheduling and power control in multi-cell networks for inter-cell interference coordination

The focus of this paper is targeted towards multi-cell dense LTE and LTE-Advanced networks, which are composed of multiple evolved Node B (eNodeB) co-existing in the same operating area and sharing the available radio resources. In such scenarios, momentous emphasis is given towards the techniques that take Inter-Cell Interference (ICI) into account while allocating the scarce radio resources. In this context, we propose solutions for the problem of joint power control and scheduling in the framework of Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) in the downlink of LTE OFDMA-based multi-cell systems. Two approaches are adopted to allocate system resources in order to achieve high performance: a centralized approach based on convex optimization and a semi-distributed approach based on non-cooperative game theory. The centralized approach needs a central controller to optimally allocate resources like in LTE CoMP (Coordinated Multipoint). In the semi-distributed approach, eNodeBs coordinate among each other for efficient resource allocation based on local knowledge conveyed by the X2 interface. It turns out that despite the lower complexity of the semi-distributed approach and its inherent adaptability, there is only a slight discrepancy of results among both approaches, which makes the distributed approach much more promising, in particular as a procedure of SON (Self Organized Network).