Separation Framework: An Enabler for Cooperative and D2D Communication for Future 5G Networks

Soaring capacity and coverage demands dictate that future cellular networks need to soon migrate towards ultra-dense networks. However, network densification comes with a host of challenges that include compromised energy efficiency, complex interference management, cumbersome mobility management, burdensome signaling overheads and higher backhaul costs. Interestingly, most of the problems, that beleaguer network densification, stem from legacy networks' one common feature i.e., tight coupling between the control and data planes regardless of their degree of heterogeneity and cell density. Consequently, in wake of 5G, control and data planes separation architecture (SARC) has recently been conceived as a promising paradigm that has potential to address most of aforementioned challenges. In this article, we review various proposals that have been presented in literature so far to enable SARC. More specifically, we analyze how and to what degree various SARC proposals address the four main challenges in network densification namely: energy efficiency, system level capacity maximization, interference management and mobility management. We then focus on two salient features of future cellular networks that have not yet been adapted in legacy networks at wide scale and thus remain a hallmark of 5G, i.e., coordinated multipoint (CoMP), and device-to-device (D2D) communications. After providing necessary background on CoMP and D2D, we analyze how SARC can particularly act as a major enabler for CoMP and D2D in context of 5G. This article thus serves as both a tutorial as well as an up to date survey on SARC, CoMP and D2D. Most importantly, the article provides an extensive outlook of challenges and opportunities that lie at the crossroads of these three mutually entangled emerging technologies.Comment: 28 pages, 11 figures, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 201

A Comprehensive Review of D2D Communication in 5G and B5G Networks

The evolution of Device-to-device (D2D) communication represents a significant breakthrough within the realm of mobile technology, particularly in the context of 5G and beyond 5G (B5G) networks. This innovation streamlines the process of data transfer between devices that are in close physical proximity to each other. D2D communication capitalizes on the capabilities of nearby devices to communicate directly with one another, thereby optimizing the efficient utilization of available network resources, reducing latency, enhancing data transmission speed, and increasing the overall network capacity. In essence, it empowers more effective and rapid data sharing among neighboring devices, which is especially advantageous within the advanced landscape of mobile networks such as 5G and B5G. The development of D2D communication is largely driven by mobile operators who gather and leverage short-range communications data to propel this technology forward. This data is vital for maintaining proximity-based services and enhancing network performance. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in different aspects of D2D communication, including the discovery process, mode selection methods, interference management, power allocation, and how D2D is employed in 5G technologies. Furthermore, the study also underscores the unresolved issues and identifies the challenges associated with D2D communication, shedding light on areas that need further exploration and developmen

Multi-cell interference management in In-band D2D communication under LTE-A network

Device-to-Device (D2D) communication is an active research area. As a part of this active research area, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication is largely exploited in Out-band non-cellular technologies, such as, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network. However, it has not been fully incorporated into existing cellular networks. Interference management is the main challenge of this technology as it generates both intra and inter-cell interference resulting in severe network performance degradation. eNodeBs with high transmit power usually affects D2D user equipments (UEs) with high interference. It usually incurs severe interference to the cellular UEs and to the base station (eNB). The scenario becomes more critical in case of multi-cell environment, which is the main research focus in this paper. In order to encourage and increase frequent use of D2D communications, some changes in the network configuration are required for today’s networking scenario. Flexible multi-cell D2D communication is required to reduce the network load. Interference management techniques are necessary in parallel to make the communication smooth, efficient and effective.This paper reviews multi-cell interference in In-Band D2D communications and investigates interference mitigation techniques in scenarios where two or more similar or different devices under same eNB or from two different eNBs can be connected as a D2D pair without compromising user experience and quality of service standard. These issues cannot be guaranteed by the current applications operated on unlicensed frequency band. The research also addresses the following related issues: mode selection, resource allocation (both for cellular and D2D environment), power control (both for eNB and D2D pair), and flexible frequency allocation techniques. The research aims to look at other issues, such as, achieving high SINR, improved system capacity, better throughput and transmission rate

Efficient radio resource allocation scheme for 5G networks with device-to-device communication

A vital technology in the next-generation cellular network is device-to-device (D2D) communication. Cellular user enabled with D2D communication provides high spectral efficiency and further increases the coverage area of the cell, especially for the end-cell users and blind spot areas. However, the implementation of D2D communication increases interference among the cellular and D2D users. In this paper, we proposed a radio resource allocation (RRA) algorithm to manage the interference using fractional frequency reuse (FFR) scheme and Hungarian algorithm. The proposed algorithm is divided into three parts. First, the FFR scheme allocates different frequency bands among the cell (inner and outer region) for both the cellular and the D2D users to reduce the interference. Second, the Hungarian weighted bipartite matching algorithm is used to allocate the resources to D2D users with the minimum total system interference, while maintaining the total system sum rate. The cellular users share the resources with more than one D2D pair. Lastly, the local search technique of swapping is used for further allocation to minimize the interference. We implemented two types of assignments, fair multiple assignment, and restricted multiple assignment. We compared our results with existing algorithms which verified that our proposed algorithm provides outstanding results in aspects like interference reduction and system sum rate. For restricted multiple assignment, 60-70% of the D2D users are allocated in average cases