Fair association and rate maximization in 6G UAV Aided HS only network and HetNet

Abstract

Advancements in technology are driving the demand for high-speed, real-time interactive applications with requirements for faster data rates, reduced latency, and expanded network capacity to deliver immersive user experiences. Additionally, the increasing connectivity needs surpass the capabilities of fifth-generation (5G) networks. Sixth-generation (6G) networks are emerging to address these demands. To maximize capacity in 6G networks, various strategies such as enhanced coverage, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted high-powered base station (HS) networks, and heterogeneous networks (HetNets) are being explored. This paper introduces a novel approach utilizing mobile device clustering (MDC) in combination with downlink hybrid multiple access (H-MA) techniques in UAV-assisted HS-only networks and HetNets. The objective is to jointly optimize mobile device (MD) admission in clusters, MD association with base stations, and network sum rate while ensuring fairness. To solve the resulting mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem, an outer approximation algorithm (OAA) is employed. The effectiveness of this approach is evaluated and compared in both UAV-assisted HS-only network and HetNet scenarios. The results demonstrate the superior performance of UAV-assisted HetNets in terms of performance indicators (PIs) like sum rate maximization, MD cluster admission, MD base station association, power allocation to MDs, and MD fair association with base stations (MDFAS). Furthermore, the proposed technique outperforms existing methods, including [36], across all PIs, highlighting its outstanding performance.