Participatory sensing as an enabler for self-organisation in future cellular networks

In this short review paper we summarise the emerging challenges in the field of participatory sensing for the self-organisation of the next generation of wireless cellular networks. We identify the potential of participatory sensing in enabling the self-organisation, deployment optimisation and radio resource management of wireless cellular networks. We also highlight how this approach can meet the future goals for the next generation of cellular system in terms of infrastructure sharing, management of multiple radio access techniques, flexible usage of spectrum and efficient management of very small data cells

On Achievable Rate Region of Multiple Coordinated Multiple Access Channels

Coordination between two or more multiple access channel (MAC) receivers can enlarge the achievable rate region of the whole system. This paper focuses on coordination by sharing the codebooks of the users between the receivers of MACs. We first define the achievable rate region of the time invariant multiple coordinated MAC (MCMAC) and subsequently derive its achievable rate region. We later express the achievable rate region in terms of the dominating points. We base our numerical analysis on the two-user two-receiver Gaussian coordinated MAC and make comparison with the interference channel, full cooperation and the individual MAC performance analysis. It is observed that this approach though suboptimal is less complex in comparison with full cooperation and that the MCMAC rate region is at least equal to the rate region of the uncoordinated approach. Over several channel states, the rate region of MCMAC exceeds that of the uncoordinated approach

On the energy efficiency-spectral efficiency trade-off in the uplink of CoMP system

In this paper, we derive a generic closed-form approximation (CFA) of the energy efficiency-spectral efficiency (EE-SE) trade-off for the uplink of coordinated multi-point (CoMP) system and demonstrate its accuracy for both idealistic and realistic power consumption models (PCMs). We utilize our CFA to compare CoMP against conventional non-cooperative system with orthogonal multiple access. In the idealistic PCM, CoMP is more energy efficient than non-cooperative system due to a reduction in power consumption; whereas in the realistic PCM, CoMP can also be more energy efficient but due to an improvement in SE and mainly for cell-edge communication and small cell deployment

Coverage Analysis in the Uplink of mmWave Cellular Network

In this paper, we present an analytical framework to evaluate the coverage in the uplink of millimeter wave (mmWave) cellular networks. By using a distance dependent line-of-sight (LOS) probability function, the location of LOS and non-LOS user equipment (UE) are modeled as two independent non-homogeneous Poisson point processes, with each having different pathloss exponent. The analysis takes account of per UE fractional power control (FPC), which couples the transmission of UE due to location-dependent channel inversion. We consider the following scenarios in our analysis: (1) Pathloss based FPC (PL-FPC) which is performed using the measured pathloss and (2) Distance based FPC (D-FPC) which is performed using the measured distance. Results suggest that D-FPC outperforms the PL-FPC at high SINR. Also, the SINR coverage probability decreases as the cell density becomes greater than a threshold

On the energy efficiency-spectral efficiency trade-off of distributed MIMO systems

In this paper, the trade-off between energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE) is analyzed for both the uplink and downlink of the distributed multiple-input multiple-output (DMIMO) system over the Rayleigh fading channel while considering different types of power consumption models (PCMs). A novel tight closed-form approximation of the DMIMO EE-SE trade-off is presented and a detailed analysis is provided for the scenario with practical antenna configurations. Furthermore, generic and accurate low and high-SE approximations of this trade-off are derived for any number of radio access units (RAUs) in both the uplink and downlink channels. Our expressions have been utilized for assessing both the EE gain of DMIMO over co-located MIMO (CMIMO) and the incremental EE gain of DMIMO in the downlink channel. Our results reveal that DMIMO is more energy efficient than CMIMO for cell edge users in both the idealistic and realistic PCMs; whereas in terms of the incremental EE gain, connecting the user terminal to only one RAU is the most energy efficient approach when a realistic PCM is considered

Trade-off between Energy Efficiency and Spectral Efficiency in the Uplink of a Linear Cellular System with Uniformly Distributed User Terminals

In this paper, we propose a tight closed-form approximation of the Energy Efficiency vs. Spectral Efficiency (EE-SE) trade-off for the uplink of a linear cellular communication system with base station cooperation and uniformly distributed user terminals. We utilize the doubly-regular property of the channel to obtain a closed form approximation using the Marčenko Pasture law. We demonstrate the accuracy of our expression by comparing it with Monte-Carlo simulation and the EE-SE trade-off expression based on low-power approximation. Results show the great tightness of our expression with Monte-Carlo simulation.We utilize our closed form expression for assessing the EE performance of cooperation for both theoretical and realistic power models. The theoretical power model includes only the transmit power, whereas the realistic power model incorporates the backhaul and signal processing power in addition to the transmit power. Results indicate that for both power models, increasing the number of antennas leads to an improvement in EE performance, whereas, increasing the number of cooperating BSs results in a loss in EE when considering the realistic power model

Will 5G See its Blind Side? Evolving 5G for Universal Internet Access

Internet has shown itself to be a catalyst for economic growth and social equity but its potency is thwarted by the fact that the Internet is off limits for the vast majority of human beings. Mobile phones---the fastest growing technology in the world that now reaches around 80\% of humanity---can enable universal Internet access if it can resolve coverage problems that have historically plagued previous cellular architectures (2G, 3G, and 4G). These conventional architectures have not been able to sustain universal service provisioning since these architectures depend on having enough users per cell for their economic viability and thus are not well suited to rural areas (which are by definition sparsely populated). The new generation of mobile cellular technology (5G), currently in a formative phase and expected to be finalized around 2020, is aimed at orders of magnitude performance enhancement. 5G offers a clean slate to network designers and can be molded into an architecture also amenable to universal Internet provisioning. Keeping in mind the great social benefits of democratizing Internet and connectivity, we believe that the time is ripe for emphasizing universal Internet provisioning as an important goal on the 5G research agenda. In this paper, we investigate the opportunities and challenges in utilizing 5G for global access to the Internet for all (GAIA). We have also identified the major technical issues involved in a 5G-based GAIA solution and have set up a future research agenda by defining open research problems

Impact of Positioning Error on Achievable Spectral Efficiency in Database-Aided Networks

Database-aided user association, where users are associated with data base stations (BSs) based on a database which stores their geographical location with signal-to-noise-ratio tagging, will play a vital role in the futuristic cellular architecture with separated control and data planes. However, such approach can lead to inaccurate user-data BS association, as a result of the inaccuracies in the positioning technique, thus leading to sub-optimal performance. In this paper, we investigate the impact of database-aided user association approach on the average spectral efficiency (ASE). We model the data plane base stations using its fluid model equivalent and derive the ASE for the channel model with pathloss only and when shadowing is incorporated. Our results show that the ASE in database-aided networks degrades as the accuracy of the user positioning technique decreases. Hence, system specifications for database-aided networks must take account of inaccuracies in positioning techniques

Control-data separation architecture for cellular radio access networks: a survey and outlook

Conventional cellular systems are designed to ensure ubiquitous coverage with an always present wireless channel irrespective of the spatial and temporal demand of service. This approach raises several problems due to the tight coupling between network and data access points, as well as the paradigm shift towards data-oriented services, heterogeneous deployments and network densification. A logical separation between control and data planes is seen as a promising solution that could overcome these issues, by providing data services under the umbrella of a coverage layer. This article presents a holistic survey of existing literature on the control-data separation architecture (CDSA) for cellular radio access networks. As a starting point, we discuss the fundamentals, concepts, and general structure of the CDSA. Then, we point out limitations of the conventional architecture in futuristic deployment scenarios. In addition, we present and critically discuss the work that has been done to investigate potential benefits of the CDSA, as well as its technical challenges and enabling technologies. Finally, an overview of standardisation proposals related to this research vision is provided

Feasibility, Architecture and Cost Considerations of Using TVWS for Rural Internet Access in 5G

The cellular technology is mostly an urban technology that has been unable to serve rural areas well. This is because the traditional cellular models are not economical for areas with low user density and lesser revenues. In 5G cellular networks, the coverage dilemma is likely to remain the same, thus widening the rural-urban digital divide further. It is about time to identify the root cause that has hindered the rural technology growth and analyse the possible options in 5G architecture to address this issue. We advocate that it can only be accomplished in two phases by sequentially addressing economic viability followed by performance progression. We deliberate how various works in literature focus on the later stage of this ‘two-phase’ problem and are not feasible to implement in the first place. We propose the concept of TV band white space (TVWS) dovetailed with 5G infrastructure for rural coverage and show that it can yield cost-effectiveness from a service provider’s perspective