Shared Resource Allocation for Mobile Users in Multi-Tier Heterogeneous Wireless Network

Abstract

Heterogeneous cell architecture in 5G networks has emerged as a leading solution in the field of mobile and wireless communication to meet bandwidth and coverage area requirements. The off-loading of mobile stations (MS) from Macro cell to Small Cells (Micro, Pico, Femto) increases the overall system throughput. However, heterogeneity in cell architecture comes with drawbacks like increased interference, frequent handovers, and QoS degradation for mobile users. In this paper, we deal with the issue of handover and limited resources in heterogeneous cell architecture. MS opt for Complete, Split or No hand-off based on its velocity. In case of Small cells, we exploit the overlap of coverage area of macro cell and small cells and propose ‘Shared Resource Allocation’, which gets initiated during the handover phase when small cell is unable to support the existing throughput and QoS requirement of MS. The MS then undergoes ‘Split hand-off’ rather than a conventional hand-off and continues to share the resources of both macro cell and small cell throughout its stay in the smaller cell’s coverage area.