Nearly Optimal Bounds for Distributed Wireless Scheduling in the SINR Model

We study the wireless scheduling problem in the SINR model. More specifically, given a set of $n$ links, each a sender-receiver pair, we wish to partition (or \emph{schedule}) the links into the minimum number of slots, each satisfying interference constraints allowing simultaneous transmission. In the basic problem, all senders transmit with the same uniform power. We give a distributed $O(\log n)$-approximation algorithm for the scheduling problem, matching the best ratio known for centralized algorithms. It holds in arbitrary metric space and for every length-monotone and sublinear power assignment. It is based on an algorithm of Kesselheim and V\"ocking, whose analysis we improve by a logarithmic factor. We show that every distributed algorithm uses $\Omega(\log n)$ slots to schedule certain instances that require only two slots, which implies that the best possible absolute performance guarantee is logarithmic.Comment: Expanded and improved version of ICALP 2011 conference pape

On Wireless Scheduling Using the Mean Power Assignment

In this paper the problem of scheduling with power control in wireless networks is studied: given a set of communication requests, one needs to assign the powers of the network nodes, and schedule the transmissions so that they can be done in a minimum time, taking into account the signal interference of concurrently transmitting nodes. The signal interference is modeled by SINR constraints. Approximation algorithms are given for this problem, which use the mean power assignment. The problem of schduling with fixed mean power assignment is also considered, and approximation guarantees are proven

Fractional Power Control for Decentralized Wireless Networks

We consider a new approach to power control in decentralized wireless networks, termed fractional power control (FPC). Transmission power is chosen as the current channel quality raised to an exponent -s, where s is a constant between 0 and 1. The choices s = 1 and s = 0 correspond to the familiar cases of channel inversion and constant power transmission, respectively. Choosing s in (0,1) allows all intermediate policies between these two extremes to be evaluated, and we see that usually neither extreme is ideal. We derive closed-form approximations for the outage probability relative to a target SINR in a decentralized (ad hoc or unlicensed) network as well as for the resulting transmission capacity, which is the number of users/m^2 that can achieve this SINR on average. Using these approximations, which are quite accurate over typical system parameter values, we prove that using an exponent of 1/2 minimizes the outage probability, meaning that the inverse square root of the channel strength is a sensible transmit power scaling for networks with a relatively low density of interferers. We also show numerically that this choice of s is robust to a wide range of variations in the network parameters. Intuitively, s=1/2 balances between helping disadvantaged users while making sure they do not flood the network with interference.Comment: 16 pages, in revision for IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communicatio

The Price of Local Power Control in Wireless Scheduling

We consider the problem of scheduling wireless links in the physical model, where we seek an assignment of power levels and a partition of the given set of links into the minimum number of subsets satisfying the signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio (SINR) constraints. Specifically, we are interested in the efficiency of local power assignment schemes, or oblivious power schemes, in approximating wireless scheduling. Oblivious power schemes are motivated by networking scenarios when power levels must be decided in advance, and not as part of the scheduling computation. We first show that the known algorithms fail to obtain sub-logarithmic bounds; that is, their approximation ratio are $\tilde\Omega(\log \max(\Delta,n))$, where $n$ is the number of links, $\Delta$ is the ratio of the maximum and minimum link lengths, and $\tilde\Omega$ hides doubly-logarithmic factors. We then present the first $O(\log{\log\Delta})$-approximation algorithm, which is known to be best possible (in terms of $\Delta$) for oblivious power schemes. We achieve this by representing interference by a conflict graph, which allows the application of graph-theoretic results for a variety of related problems, including the weighted capacity problem. We explore further the contours of approximability, and find the choice of power assignment matters; that not all metric spaces are equal; and that the presence of weak links makes the problem harder. Combined, our result resolve the price of oblivious power for wireless scheduling, or the value of allowing unfettered power control.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure

On a game theoretic approach to capacity maximization in wireless networks

We consider the capacity problem (or, the single slot scheduling problem) in wireless networks. Our goal is to maximize the number of successful connections in arbitrary wireless networks where a transmission is successful only if the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at the receiver is greater than some threshold. We study a game theoretic approach towards capacity maximization introduced by Andrews and Dinitz (INFOCOM 2009) and Dinitz (INFOCOM 2010). We prove vastly improved bounds for the game theoretic algorithm. In doing so, we achieve the first distributed constant factor approximation algorithm for capacity maximization for the uniform power assignment. When compared to the optimum where links may use an arbitrary power assignment, we prove a $O(\log \Delta)$ approximation, where $\Delta$ is the ratio between the largest and the smallest link in the network. This is an exponential improvement of the approximation factor compared to existing results for distributed algorithms. All our results work for links located in any metric space. In addition, we provide simulation studies clarifying the picture on distributed algorithms for capacity maximization.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures (to appear in INFOCOM 2011

Randomized Distributed Configuration Management of Wireless Networks: Multi-layer Markov Random Fields and Near-Optimality

Distributed configuration management is imperative for wireless infrastructureless networks where each node adjusts locally its physical and logical configuration through information exchange with neighbors. Two issues remain open. The first is the optimality. The second is the complexity. We study these issues through modeling, analysis, and randomized distributed algorithms. Modeling defines the optimality. We first derive a global probabilistic model for a network configuration which characterizes jointly the statistical spatial dependence of a physical- and a logical-configuration. We then show that a local model which approximates the global model is a two-layer Markov Random Field or a random bond model. The complexity of the local model is the communication range among nodes. The local model is near-optimal when the approximation error to the global model is within a given error bound. We analyze the trade-off between an approximation error and complexity, and derive sufficient conditions on the near-optimality of the local model. We validate the model, the analysis and the randomized distributed algorithms also through simulation.Comment: 15 pages, revised and submitted to IEEE Trans. on Networkin

Resource Allocation via Sum-Rate Maximization in the Uplink of Multi-Cell OFDMA Networks

In this paper, we consider maximizing the sum-rate in the uplink of a multi-cell OFDMA network. The problem has a non-convex combinatorial structure and is known to be NP hard. Due to the inherent complexity of implementing the optimal solution, firstly, we derive an upper and lower bound to the optimal average network throughput. Moreover, we investigate the performance of a near optimal single cell resource allocation scheme in the presence of ICI which leads to another easily computable lower bound. We then develop a centralized sub-optimal scheme that is composed of a geometric programming based power control phase in conjunction with an iterative subcarrier allocation phase. Although, the scheme is computationally complex, it provides an effective benchmark for low complexity schemes even without the power control phase. Finally, we propose less complex centralized and distributed schemes that are well-suited for practical scenarios. The computational complexity of all schemes is analyzed and performance is compared through simulations. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed low complexity schemes can achieve comparable performance to the centralized sub-optimal scheme in various scenarios. Moreover, comparisons with the upper and lower bounds provide insight on the performance gap between the proposed schemes and the optimal solution

Resource Optimization in Device-to-Device Cellular Systems Using Time-Frequency Hopping

We develop a flexible and accurate framework for device-to-device (D2D) communication in the context of a conventional cellular network, which allows for time-frequency resources to be either shared or orthogonally partitioned between the two networks. Using stochastic geometry, we provide accurate expressions for SINR distributions and average rates, under an assumption of interference randomization via time and/or frequency hopping, for both dedicated and shared spectrum approaches. We obtain analytical results in closed or semi-closed form in high SNR regime, that allow us to easily explore the impact of key parameters (e.g., the load and hopping probabilities) on the network performance. In particular, unlike other models, the expressions we obtain are tractable, i.e., they can be efficiently optimized without extensive simulation. Using these, we optimize the hopping probabilities for the D2D links, i.e., how often they should request a time or frequency slot. This can be viewed as an optimized lower bound to other more sophisticated scheduling schemes. We also investigate the optimal resource partitions between D2D and cellular networks when they use orthogonal resources

A Fast Distributed Approximation Algorithm for Minimum Spanning Trees in the SINR Model

A fundamental problem in wireless networks is the \emph{minimum spanning tree} (MST) problem: given a set $V$ of wireless nodes, compute a spanning tree $T$, so that the total cost of $T$ is minimized. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in the physical interference model based on SINR constraints. Distributed algorithms are especially challenging in the SINR model, because of the non-locality of the model. In this paper, we develop a fast distributed approximation algorithm for MST construction in an SINR based distributed computing model. For an $n$-node network, our algorithm's running time is $O(D\log{n}+\mu\log{n})$ and produces a spanning tree whose cost is within $O(\log n)$ times the optimal (MST cost), where $D$ denotes the diameter of the disk graph obtained by using the maximum possible transmission range, and $\mu=\log{\frac{d_{max}}{d_{min}}}$ denotes the "distance diversity" w.r.t. the largest and smallest distances between two nodes. (When $\frac{d_{max}}{d_{min}}$ is $n$-polynomial, $\mu = O(\log n)$.) Our algorithm's running time is essentially optimal (upto a logarithmic factor), since computing {\em any} spanning tree takes $\Omega(D)$ time; thus our algorithm produces a low cost spanning tree in time only a logarithmic factor more than the time to compute a spanning tree. The distributed scheduling complexity of the spanning tree resulted from our algorithm is $O(\mu \log n)$. Our algorithmic design techniques can be useful in designing efficient distributed algorithms for related "global" problems in wireless networks in the SINR model

Leveraging Multiple Channels in Ad Hoc Networks

We examine the utility of multiple channels of communication in wireless networks under the SINR model of interference. The central question is whether the use of multiple channels can result in linear speedup, up to some fundamental limit. We answer this question affirmatively for the data aggregation problem, perhaps the most fundamental problem in sensor networks. To achieve this, we form a hierarchical structure of independent interest, and illustrate its versatility by obtaining a new algorithm with linear speedup for the node coloring problem.Comment: 20 pages, appeared in PODC'1