Cooperative Game-Based Resource Allocation Scheme for Heterogeneous Networks with eICIC Technology

Heterogeneous network (HetNet) is considered to be the most promising approach for increasing communication capacity. However, HetNet control problems are difficult due to their intertier interference. Recently, the enhanced intercell interference coordination (eICIC) technology is introduced to offer several benefits, including a more equitable traffic load distribution across the macro and embedded small cells. In this paper, we design a new resource allocation scheme for the eICIC-based HetNet. Our proposed scheme is formulated as a joint cooperative game to handle conflicting requirements. By adopting the ideas of Kalai and Smorodinsky solution (KSS), multicriteria Kalai and Smorodinsky solution (MCKSS), and sequential Raiffa solution (SRS), we develop a hybrid control algorithm for an adaptive resource sharing between different base stations. To effectively adjust the eICIC fraction rates, the concepts of MCKSS and SRS are applied in an interactive manner. For mobile devices in the HetNet, the assigned resource is distributed by using the idea of KSS. The key insight of our algorithm is to translate the originally competitive problem into a hierarchical cooperative problem to reach a socially optimal outcome. The main novelty of our approach is its flexibility to reach a reciprocal consensus under dynamic HetNet environments. Exhaustive system simulations illustrate the performance gains along different dimensions, such as system throughput, device payoff, and fairness among devices. The superiority of our proposed scheme is fully demonstrated in comparison with three other existing eICIC control protocols.