A distributed downlink resource allocation algorithm for dense small cell networks

Abstract

This paper considers the dynamic downlink spectrum resource allocation problem in dense small cell networks. To address the problem, we propose a distributed downlink resource allocation (DDRA) algorithm, which allows each base station to perform resource allocation for its users in a distributed manner. To support the DDRA algorithm, each base station needs to maintain a couple of interference tables, SITable and WITable, which are used to store those base stations that have a strong interference and a weak interference to each user in the corresponding cell in each timeslot, respectively. Meanwhile, it also needs to maintain a couple of resource status tables, SRSTable and WRSTable, which are used to store the RBs that have been allocated by those base stations contained in the SITable and WITable in each timeslot, respectively. Based on the resource status tables, each base station performs resource block (RB) allocation for its users. For each new user, those RBs that would cause a strong interference are not considered in allocation. Only those RBs that would not cause any interference or only cause a weak interference are considered. Simulation results show that the proposed DDRA algorithm can significantly increase the system capacity as compared to an existing resource allocation algorithm.