Buffer-aware packet scheduling in downlink multiuser systems

In this paper, we consider the design of a scheduling algorithm for downlink multiuser systems with a finite-buffer traffic model to reduce average packet delay, while maintaining the stability condition of the networks. We propose a new Buffer-Aware Adaptive (BAA) scheduler which considers both channel state and buffer conditions for resource allocation. The generalized form of the proposed algorithm is also established. Stability considerations of the proposed algorithm are provided, along with the average throughput lower bound and approximation. Both single-link and system-level simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheduler appears to outperform existing scheduling algorithms in terms of average packet delay.