Cross-layer optimisation for uplink transmission in OFDMA cellular networks with fixed relays

In this paper, we consider a cross-layer design aimed to enhance performance for uplink transmission in an orthogonal frequency division multiple-access (OFDMA)-based cellular network with fixed relay stations. Because mobile stations (MSs) spend most of the power on the uplink transmission, power efficiency resource allocation becomes very important to MSs. We develop a cross-layer optimisation framework for two types of uplink flows (inelastic and elastic flows) that have different quality-of-service requirements. For inelastic flows with fixed-rate requirement, we formulate the cross-layer optimisation problem as the minimisation of the sum transmission power of MSs under the constraints of flow conservation law, subcarrier assignment, relaying path selection and power allocation. For elastic flows with flexible-service-rate requirement, we consider the cross-layer trade-off between uplink service rate and power consumption of MSs and pose the optimisation problem as the maximisation of a linear combination of utility (of service rates) and power consumption (of MSs). Different trade-offs can be achieved by varying the weighting parameters. Dual decomposition and subgradient methods are used to solve the problems optimally with reduced computational complexity. The simulation results show that, through the proposed cross-layer resource optimisation framework and algorithms, significant benefits of deployment of multiple fixed relays in an OFDMA cellular network can be fully obtained such as reduction in power consumption, increase in service rate and energy savings in the uplink transmission of MSs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.