© elsevier1 chapter 6: intercell interference coordination: towards a greener cellular network duy...
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© Elsevier 1
Chapter 6:Intercell Interference Coordination:
Towards A Greener Cellular Network
Duy T. Ngo, Duy H. N. Nguyen, and Tho Le-Ngoc
McGill UniversityMontreal, QC, Canada
HANDBOOK ON GREEN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
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Introduction
Intercell interference (ICI) is a critical issue in cellular communication systems.
With universal frequency reuse, it is even more urgent to find effective solutions to this problem.
Energy efficiency is crucial: Environmental effects of operating a huge number of cellular
networks with high energy consumption Battery-powered user terminals have relatively short operating
time
Towards a greener design, effective coordination of the intercell interference is key to Minimize the carbon footprint Maximize the overall network performance
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Introduction
Cell coordination offers tremendous advantages over the traditional approaches that typically treat interference on a per-cell basis.
This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art techniques that manage the intercell interference in multicell networks Homogeneous networks Coordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP) Small-cell heterogeneous networks (femtocells) Energy-efficient interference coordination
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Frequency Reuse and Interference Issue in Homogeneous Cellular Systems
Broadcast nature of wireless medium results in the fundamental problem of interference.
Fractional frequency reuse Reduced spectral efficiency
Universal frequency reuse More spectrally efficient Only if intercell interference (ICI) is
properly control. CDMA systems
All users (UEs) share the same spectrum and are interfered.
OFDMA systems Joint subchannel assignment and
power control is required to maximize system performance and reduce ICI.
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BS Coordination for Interference Management in Homogeneous Multicell Systems
Conventionally, interference is usually controlled on a per-cell basis.
The ICI is treated as background noise by each cell, and the base station (BS) of which has no intention to control the interference induced to other cells.
Base station (BS) coordination is a more effective means to mitigate cochannel interference in multicell networks.
Coordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP) takes advantage of the inter-cell transmissions to enhance the overall system performance.
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Classification and Design Requirements for CoMP
Depending on the extent of coordination among cells, CoMP schemes can be classified into 3 categories: Joint Signal Processing (JP): multiple BSs are
transmitting/receiving data signals to/from the UEs. Interference Coordination (IC): each UE transmits/receives
data signals to/from its single serving BS. ICI is jointly controlled. Interference Aware (IA): ICI is not controlled, but is utilized to
adjust the transmitting/receiving strategy at each BS. This scheme is a strategic noncooperative game (SNG).
Different CoMP schemes impose different requirements on Data and signaling exchanges. Channel state information (CSI) knowledge needed at the
coordinated BSs.
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Co-channel Deployment of Heterogeneous Small-cell Networks
Small cells (i.e. femtocells) deployed at a home, connected to backhaul via residential wireline links (e.g. DSL).
Range of less than 50m and serve a dozen active users
Key Benefits Higher capacity via
larger area spectral efficiency
Better coverage with lower power consumption
Offload traffic for macrocell
More cost-effective compared to cell-partitioning approach
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Cross-tier Interference in Femtocell Deployment
Cross-tier interference can be severe and hard to control
Scenario A: A victim cell-edge
macrocell user (MUE) is strongly interfered by the downlink transmission of a nearby femtocell BS.
Scenario B: An MUE located far away
from its serving macrocell BS transmits at high power in the uplink to compensate the path losses.
This may jam the transmission of a nearby victim femtocell user (FUE).
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Challenges in Managing Interference for Femtocell Networks
It is more challenging to mitigate inteference in femtocell than in traditional homogeneous settings.
Unplanned deployment: Femtocells are deployed randomly without network planning that is normally taken place. Femtocell BSs and users can be moved or switched on/off at any time.
Access priority: Prioritized MUEs, the spectrum owner, need to be protected from cross-tier interference induced by lower-tier FUEs.
Limited control/signaling: Residential network infrastructure only provide limited capacity for the exchange of control and signaling information. Delay can be a major issue.
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Interference Management in Femtocell Networks:
Design Requirements Femtocell deployment: A paradigm shift from the
traditional centralized macrocell approaches to a more uncoordinated and autonomous solution
Available centralized solutions may not be applicable.
Distributed interference management approaches are preferable in practical applications so that MUEs are robustly protected with their QoS requirements
always maintained; and FUEs effectively exploit residual network capacity to optimize
their own performance.
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Interference Management Techniques in CDMA-based Homogeneous Cellular Networks (1)
Power control is effective for CDMA-based systems
SINR/Power balancing: can be implemented distributively, but diverges with infeasible SINR targets:
Game-theoretical approach: users selfishly optimize their own performance, giving Nash equilibrium (NE), but not Pareto-efficient.
Game with pricing can substantially enhance the NE.
][ˆ
]1[min
tPtP ii
ii
),(max 0 iiiP PPUi
),(),(max 0 iiiiiiP PPCPPUi
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Interference Management Techniques in CDMA-based Homogeneous Cellular Networks (2)
Using pricing scheme that is linearly proportional to SINR, i.e., , NE is unique and Pareto-efficient for single-cell settings.
Observe: SINRs should not be fixed but adjusted to the extent that the system capacity can still support. A high SINR is translated into better throughput and reliability A low SINR implies lower data rates.
Jointly optimize SINR and power to achieve Pareto optimality by Re-parametrization via the left Perron-Frobenius eigenvectors A locally computable ascent direction
iiii PPC ),(
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Interference Management Techniques in OFDMA-based Homogeneous Cellular Networks
(1) Optimize over 2 dimensions
Joint subchannel assignment and power allocation
Typical design problem:
Common approach: Step 1: Given fixed power allocation P, find optimal subchannel
assignment i* Step 2: Given fixed subchannel assignment i, find optimal
power P* Go back to Step 1 and repeat until convergence.
maxk
)(
m k
)(),(,),(i P,
P P :subject to
)]P(1log[ max
k
kkmimkmiw
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Interference Management Techniques in OFDMA-based Homogeneous Cellular Networks
(2) Game theoretical approach with “virtual referee”
This referee mandatorily changes the game rules whenever needed, and helps improve the outcome of the game.
Transmit power of UEs with unfavorable channel conditions are reduced.
UEs generating significant interference to others may be prohibited from using certain subchannels.
Low-complexity and heuristic approaches Affordable computational complexity Reduced feedback overhead Suitable for practical applications
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Coordinated Multipoint Transmission and Reception (CoMP)
Consider a network with Q cells and K users.
CoMP allows the data signals to a UE to be sent from multiple BSs.
CoMP utilizes space division multiple access (SDMA) Each BS can send data signals to multiple connected UEs by
means of precoding Beamformer for UE i at BS q.
Assuming each UE is assigned to a known subset of BSs.
iqw
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CoMP for Power Minimization (1)
Interference Aware (IA) Each UE is assigned to only one BS BS adjusts its beamformers to ensure a set of target SINR at its
connected UEs.
CoMP under IA scheme is a strategic noncooperative game. Players: BSs Admissible set of strategies: Constraints on the SINR at each UE. Utility function: Transmit power at the BSs
The beam patterns are always unchanged, regardless the ICI power allocation game.
Characterization of the NE: existence and uniqueness. Fully distributed implementation
2||||min q
iKi
qw
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CoMP for Power Minimization (2)
Joint Signal Processing (JP) and Interference Coordination (IC) Joint optimization to minimize transmit power across
coordinated BS
Solution is Pareto-optimal. Convex optimization, easy to find the optimal solution. Multicell problem can be reformulated as a single cell
problem well-known algorithms can be adopted. Drawbacks:
Centralized implementation Signaling and synchronization between BSs
q Ki
q
q
i
2||||min w
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CoMP for Power Minimization (3)
Consider a new game Distributed implementation as in IA scheme Optimal solution as in IC scheme
New utility function with pricing:
where : pricing factor charged on ICI caused by BS q to its unconnected UEs IA scheme with pricing
Under the right pricing scheme, the new game approaches optimal performance offered by IC scheme.
22 ||||||||minj
q
j
q
i qHq
Kjq
Kiq hWw
jq
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CoMP for Power Minimization (4)
CoMP is more power-efficient than frequency reuse scheme.
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CoMP for Rate Maximization (1)
Interference Aware: Each UE is assigned to only one BS BS adjusts its beamformers to maximize the data rate to its
connected UEs.
CoMP under IA scheme is a strategic noncooperative game. Players: BSs Admissible set of strategies: Power constraint on the beamformers Utility function: Data rate at the BSs
Nonconcave utility function difficult to analyze Apply zero-forcing (ZF) at each BS
Simplify the game into a power iterative waterfilling game Easier to character of the NE: existence and uniqueness
qKi
i1logmax
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CoMP for Rate Maximization (2)
Joint Signal Processing (JS) and Interference Coordination (IC) Joint optimization to maximize the data rate to all the UEs
Nonconvex optimization problem Difficult to find global optimum Approximation technique to find locally optimal solutions Solution approaches are usually centralized.
IA scheme with pricing: new utility function with pricing
Under the right pricing, the network sum rate monotonically increases to a local maximum.
K
ii
1
1logmax
2||||1logmaxj
q
j
q
qHq
Kjq
Kii hW
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CoMP for Rate Maximization (3)
CoMP extracts higher sum-rate than frequency reuse scheme.
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for CDMA-based Femtocells (1)
Joint power and admission control for distributed interference management with dynamic pricing combined with admission control
Net utility for MUE I to robustly protect the performance of all active MUEs:
Update of power for MUE i:
Net utility for FUE j to balance the achieved throughput and the power expenditure:
imicbii PaU
iii
)()](exp[1
1tot )(
iiiiii gtItP ,min* ][),max(]1[
jfjjij PaWU )(tot )1log()(
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for CDMA-based Femtocells (2)
For non-congested network, the proposed algorithm quickly converges to an equilibrium with the target SINRs achieved for all MUEs.
For congested network, admission control can remove some FUEs, resulting in a noticeable growth in SINRs of the remaining FUEs.
Removal of FUEs does not significantly affect the transmit powers and SINRs of MUEs.
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for CDMA-based Femtocells (3)
Using convex optimization, distributed joint power and SINR allocation is devised such that All users attain their respective SINRs that are always optimal in
Pareto sense, Every MUE i is protected with . Every FUE j has its utility globally maximized.
Key steps: Characterize Pareto-optimal boundary of the SINR feasible region Use load-spillage parametrization to realize every SINR point
lying on such a boundary Determine a unique operating SINR point, based upon the
specific network utility function of FUEs and the minimum SINR requirements of MUEs,
Adapt transmit power according to Foschini-Miljanic's algorithm to attain such a design target.
minii
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for CDMA-based Femtocells (4)
Proposed algorithm converges to global optima for different utilities.
Performance of the femtocell network optimized
Minimum SINRs prescribed for MUEs always guaranteed
MUE index
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Target SINR
1.578
1.507
1.440
1.376
1.315
1.256
1.200
1.147
1.095
1.047
Achieved
SINR
1.578
1.507
1.440
1.376
1.315
1.256
1.200
1.147
1.095
1.047
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for OFDMA-based Femtocells (1)
Joint allocation of resource block and transmit power Utility of each femtocell BS includes system capacity
and other sources of interferences (i.e., femtocell to macrocell, macrocell to femtocell, and femtocell to femtocell).
Formulated game belongs to the class of exact potential game, shown to always converge to a NE when a best response adaptive strategy is applied.
Solution is an iterative process: Step 1: Optimal resource block allocation is determined given
a transmit power policy. Step 2: Waterfilling allocation of power for femtocells is
computed for a fixed resource block allocation. Go back to Step 1 and repeat until convergence.
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Advanced Interference Coordination Techniques for OFDMA-based Femtocells (2)
Joint subchannel and transmit power allocation scheme Femto BSs are allowed to transmit on the same subchannel with
MUEs as long as interference is limited to an acceptable level Maximizing capacity of cognitive radio network (e.g., femtocell) ICI among different cognitive radio cells is controlled.
Lagrangian dual method: Original design problem is decomposed into multiple
subproblems in the dual domain Each problem is solved by an efficient algorithm.
Duality gap approaches zero when the number of OFDMA subchannels is sufficiently large.
Proposed solution outperforms the fixed subchannel allocation scheme.
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Tradeoff between Spectral and Energy Efficiency
Spectral Efficiency (SE)
Energy Efficiency (EE)
With circuit power Pc
b/s/Hz]][)(1[log = 2SE WPW
R
b/J][])(1[Wlog
= 2EE P
WP
P
R
)1(2 SE
SEEE
b/J][ EEcPP
R
Tradeoff relation:
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Energy-efficient Interference Management for Multicarrier Multicell Networks
Given interference power on subchannel k, data rate of user i across all subchannels is
EE of user i:
Given the power allocation of all other users, P-i, each user i is required to solve the best-response problem:
As is strictly quasiconcave in Pi, there exists at least one NE in this power control game.
Under certain conditions, the NE is unique in frequency-selective channels
) P,(P max arg = )(Pf i-iiPi-n i
k
)(
)((k)i,i
i
g1log =R
ki
ki
I
P
)(kiI
ci
i
PP
R
i
) P,(P i-ii
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Energy-efficient Joint Power Control and BSAssignment in CDMA-based Multicell Networks
Utility of user i received at its assigned BS ai:
Two-dimensional space: Transmit power Pi
Base station ai
Power control game with a linear pricing:
Original problem is reduced to:
Improvement in EE with linear pricing is above 25%
i
,ia,ia P
)(
M
RL =(P)u i
i
f
iaiiiaiiciaaP PcPPuPPu
iiiii ),(),(max ,,,
iiijjP Pci
][maxmax ,
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Chapter Summary
Two conflicting goals in cellular network deployment: spectral v.s energy efficiency
With universal frequency reuse, new communication paradigms are needed to proactively deal with intercell interference (ICI).
Effective coordinating of ICI is the key to optimizing the two design goals towards a greener cellular network. For conventional homogeneous networks, CoMP schemes
efficiently coordinate or even take advantage of the ICI. For heterogenous networks, advanced interference
management mechanisms help mitigate cross-tier interference in mixed macrocell/femtocell deployment.
Current advances in ICI coordination improve the energy efficiency of cellular networks while maintaining a good tradeoff with spectral efficiency goal.
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Some Potential Research Directions
Design CoMP schemes that deal with quantization errors, fast-varying channels and CSI feedback delay
Tradeoff between achieving optimal performance and incurring low computational complexity in CoMP
Distributed implementation of robust CoMP schemes with only local CSI required
Address energy-efficiency criterion in standardization of CoMP techniques
Determine the optimal cell sizes and locations to deploy femtocell BSs, taking into account the energy expended for the backhaul and signaling overhead
With cooperative relays, power-efficient resource allocation techniques (e.g., energy-efficient modulation, selective relaying) should be devised and adapted.