A distributed, load-aware, power and frequency bargaining protocol for LTE-based networks

A distributed, load-aware, joint power and frequency allocation protocol is introduced for LTE-based cellular networks, and system-level simulations are performed. Our proposed scheme aims to cooperatively limit the impact of Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) on the center users´ throughput compared to the Reuse 1 scheme, while providing sufficient throughput for the edge users. This is achieved through an asynchronous, lightweight scheme of local message exchange between neighboring LTE eNodeBs. The proposed scheme facilitates a type of “bargain” where an overloaded sector requests permission to utilize its neighbors´ edge bands for its center users at a limited set of transmit power levels. Grants are generated at each neighbor by solving a small-scale optimization problem. Using an LTE simulator we evaluate our scheme on a network with 21 sectors of varying load patterns. The proposed scheme´s performance for center users is consistently improved with respect to FFR-3, while for edge users the performance degradation is controlled by a parameter we set in the optimization problems´ definitions; compared to Reuse 1 edge users still have gains. Specifically, we observed up to a 46% gain in the sectors´ center throughput with a cost below 9% at the edges when compared to the classic FFR scheme, while the overall system throughput goes up by up to 26% in heavily loaded scenarios.