Throughput Analysis and Optimization of Multi-layer FFR-aided OFDMA Networks

[EN] In OFDMA networks, the use of universal frequency reuse plans improves cell capacity but causes very high levels of inter-cell interference (ICI), particularly affecting users located in the cell-edge regions.In order to mitigate ICI while achieving high spectral efficiencies, fractional frequency reuse (FFR) shows a good tradeoff between cell-edge throughput and overall cell spectral efficiency.Recently, multi-layer FFR-aided OFDMA-based designs, splitting the cell into inner, middle and outer layers have been proposed and studied with the aim of increasing the spectrum utilization and improving the user fairness throughout the cell.This paper presents an analytical framework allowing the performance evaluation and optimization of multi-layer FFR designs in OFDMA-based networks.Tractable mathematical expressions of the average cell throughput as well as the layer spectral efficiency have been derived for both proportional fair (PF) and round robin (RR) scheduling policies.Work supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (AEI/FEDER, UE) under project ELISA (subproject TEC2014-59255-C3-2-R), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Spain, and the Conselleria d’Educacio, Cultura i Universitats (Govern de les Illes Balears) under grant FPI/1538/2013 (co-financed by the European Social Fund). The research leading to these results has also received funding from ”la Caixa” Banking Foundation.Garcia-Morales, J.; Femenias, G.; Riera-Palou, F.; Thompson, JS. (2018). Throughput Analysis and Optimization of Multi-layer FFR-aided OFDMA Networks. En XIII Jornadas de Ingeniería telemática (JITEL 2017). Libro de actas. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 140-147. https://doi.org/10.4995/JITEL2017.2017.6582OCS14014

Short-Term Power Constrained Cell-Free Massive-MIMO Over Spatially Correlated Ricean Fading

This paper considers short-term power constrained cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) scenarios where a large set of multi-antenna access points (APs) provide service to a group of single-antenna mobile stations (MSs) on a spatially correlated multipath environment. Based on a probabilistic approach, the spatially correlated propagation links are modeled using either Ricean or Rayleigh fading channel models that combine a deterministic line-of-sight (LOS) propagation path with a small-scale fading caused by non-line-of-sight (NLOS) multipath propagation. Assuming the use of minimum mean square error (MMSE) channel estimates, closed-form expressions for the downlink (DL) achievable spectral efficiency of a cellfree massive MIMO network with short-term power constraints (i.e., a vector normalized conjugate beamformer (NCB)) are derived and benchmarked against that provided by the conventional cell-free massive MIMO network with long-term power constraints (i.e., the conventional conjugate beamforming (CB)). These expressions, encompassing the effects of spatial antenna correlation, Ricean/Rayleigh fading and pilot contamination, are then used to derive both pragmatic and optimal max-min peruser power allocation strategies and to gain theoretical insight on the performance advantage provided by the use of short-term power constraints instead of the conventional long-term power constrained approach.This work was supported in part by the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) of Spain under Grants TEC2017-90093-C3-2-R and TEC2017-90093-C3-3-R, and in part by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funds of the European Union (EU) (AEI/FEDER, UE)

Channel hardening in cell-free and user-centric massive MIMO networks with spatially correlated ricean fading

The irruption of the cell-free (CF) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network topology has meant taking one step further the concept of massive MIMO as a means to provide uniform service in large coverage areas. A key property of massive MIMO networks is channel hardening, by which the channel becomes deterministic when the number of antennas grows large enough relative to the number of serviced users, easing the signal processing and boosting the performance of simple precoders. However, in CF massive MIMO, the fulfillment of this condition depends on several aspects that are not considered in classical massive MIMO systems. In this work, we address the presence of channel hardening in both CF massive MIMO and the recently appeared user-centric (UC) approach, under a spatially correlated Ricean fading channel using distributed and cooperative precoding and combining schemes and different power control strategies for both the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) segments. We show that the line-of-sight (LOS) component, spatially correlated antennas and UC schemes have an impact on how the channel hardens. In addition, we examine the existent gap between the estimated achievable rate and the true network performance when channel hardening is compromised. Exact closed-form expressions for both the hardening metric and achievable DL/UL rates are given as well.This work was supported in part by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (AEI/FEDER, UE), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Spain, through the project TERESA under Grant TEC2017-90093-C3-2-R and Grant TEC2017-90093-C3-3-R, and in part by the Spanish CDTI PID through the project OPALL5G: Optimization of Small Cells Performance in 5G NR

Downlink scheduling and resource allocation for 5G MIMO-multicarrier: OFDM vs FBMC/OQAM

OAPA The definition of the next generation of wireless communications, so-called 5G networks, is currently underway. Among many technical decisions, one that is particularly fundamental is the choice of the physical layer modulation format and waveform, an issue for which several alternatives have been proposed. Two of the most promising candidates are: (i) orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM), a conservative proposal that builds upon the huge legacy of 4G networks, and (ii) filterbank multicarrier/offset quadrature amplitude modulation (FBMC/OQAM), a progressive approach that in frequency selective channels sacrifices subcarrier orthogonality in lieu of an increased spectral efficiency. The comparative merits of OFDM and FBMC/OQAM have been well investigated over the last few years but mostly, from a purely physical layer point of view and largely neglecting how the physical layer performance translates into user-relevant metrics at the upper-layers. This paper aims at presenting a comprehensive comparison of both modulation formats in terms of practical network indicators such as goodput, delay, fairness and service coverage, and under operational conditions that can be envisaged to be realistic in 5G deployments. To this end, a unifying cross-layer framework is proposed that encompasses the downlink scheduling and resource allocation procedures and that builds upon a model of the queueing process at the data-link control layer and a physical layer abstraction that can be chosen to model either OFDM or FBMC/OQAM. Extensive numerical results conclusively demonstrate that most of the apriori advantages of FBMC/OQAM over OFDM do indeed translate into improved network indicators, that is, the increase in spectral efficiency achieved by FBMC/OQAM makes up for the distortion caused by the loss of orthogonality.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Deployment of clustered-based small cells in interference-limited dense scenarios: analysis, design and trade-offs

Network densification is one of the most promising solutions to address the high data rate demands in 5G and beyond (B5G) wireless networks while ensuring an overall adequate quality of service. In this scenario, most users experience significant interference levels from neigh-bouring mobile stations (MSs) and access points (APs) making the use of advanced interference management techniques mandatory. Clustered interference alignment (IA) has been widely pro-posed to manage the interference in densely deployed scenarios with a large number of users. Nonetheless, the setups considered in previous works are still far from the densification lev-els envisaged for 5G/B5G networks that are considered in this paper. Moreover, prior designs of clustered-IA systems relied on oversimplified channel models and/or enforced single-stream transmission. In this paper, we explore an ultradense deployment of small-cells (SCs) to pro-vide coverage in 5G/B5G wireless networks. A novel cluster design based on size-restricted k-means algorithm to divide the SCs into different clusters is proposed taking into account path loss and shadowing effects, thus providing a more realistic solution than those available in the current literature. Unlike previous works, this clustering method can also cater for spatial mul-tiplexing scenarios. Also, several design parameters such as the number of transmit antennas, multiplexed data streams, and deployed APs are analyzed in order to identify trade-offs between performance and complexity. The relationship between density of network elements per area unit and performance is investigated, thus allowing to illustrate that there is an optimal coverage area value over which the network resources should be distributed. Moreover, it is shown that the spectral-efficiency degradation due to the inter-cluster interference in ultra-dense networks (UDNs) points to the need of designing an interference management algorithm that accounts for both, intra-cluster and inter-cluster interference. Simulation results provide key insights for the deployment of small cells in interference-limited dense scenarios.This work has received funding from the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie ETN TeamUp5G, grant agreement No. 813391. We also acknowledge the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) and the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) for its support to the Spanish National Project TERESA (subprojects TEC2017-90093-C3-2-R and TEC2017-90093-C3-3-R).Publicad

Scalable cell-free massive MIMO networks with LEO satellite support

This paper presents an integrated network architecture combining a cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-M-MIMO) terrestrial layout with a low Earth orbit satellite segment where the scalability of the terrestrial segment is taken into account. The main purpose of such an integrated scheme is to transfer to the satellite segment those users that somehow limit the performance of the terrestrial network. Towards this end, a correspondingly scalable technique is proposed to govern the ground-to-satellite user diversion that can be tuned to different performance metrics. In particular, in this work the proposed technique is configured to result in an heuristic that improves the minimum per-user rate and the sum-rate of the overall network. Simulation results serve to identify under which conditions the satellite segment can become an attractive solution to enhance users’ performance. Generally speaking, although the availability of the satellite segment always leads to an improvement of users’ rates, it is in those cases where the terrestrial CF-M-MIMO network exhibits low densification traits that the satellite backup becomes crucial.This work was supported in part by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) through the R+D+i Project under Grant PID2020-115323RB-C32 and Grant PID2020-115323RB-C31; and in part by the Centre Tecnológic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya Researchers through the Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation and the European Union-NextGenerationEU under Grant UNICO-5G I+D/AROMA3D-Hybrid TSI-063000-2021-71.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version