Investigation on Distributed Joint Optimization of User Association and ICIC Based on PF Criteria in Small Cell Deployments

Abstract

To support the continuous growth of mobile traffic, small cell deployments are promising. In small cell deployments, combined usage of user association (UA) and inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) is inevitable, which requires joint optimization of both techniques. Therefore, we propose joint optimization of UA and ICIC via distributed control. In our distributed control method, “distributed” control units (DCUs) were located at the macro base stations (BSs). Each DCU collected achievable data rates of users that were connecting to the macro BS and low-power (LP) BSs within the macro coverage. To obtain the high performance similar to centralized control, achievable data rates of users in the neighboring macro BSs were collected via the backhaul. Furthermore, we showed the effectiveness of our proposed scheme.