Game theoretic approach to power control in cellular CDMA

In this paper, we present the power control problem in CDMA wireless data networks in the analytical setting of noncooperative game theory. User satisfaction is represented as a net utility function, which is the difference of a strictly concave function, based on signal to interference ratio, and a cost term on user´s power. A detailed analysis for the existence and uniqueness of Nash equilibrium for the above noncooperative game is presented. Next, a decentralized power control algorithm is developed which converges to the Nash equilibrium, as demonstrated by both analytical and simulation methods. The framework is then extended to the multicell case, making user utilities depend on base-station assignment as well as powers. We propose a generalized algorithm that can handle base station assignment and hand-off, as well as power control, and study by extensive simulations its performance in a dynamic environment.