Joint Optimization of Cooperative Beamforming and Relay Assignment in Multi-User Wireless Relay Networks

Abstract

This paper considers joint optimization of cooperative beamforming and relay assignment for multi-user multi-relay wireless networks to maximize the minimum of the received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINR). Separated continuous optimization of beamforming and binary optimization of relay assignment already pose very challenging programs. Certainly, their joint optimization, which involves nonconvex objectives and coupled constraints in continuous and binary variables, is among the most challenging optimization problems. Even the conventional relaxation of binary constraints by continuous box constraints is still computationally intractable because the relaxed program is still highly nonconvex. However, it is shown in this paper that the joint programs fit well in the d.c. (difference of two convex functions/sets) optimization framework. Efficient optimization algorithms are then developed for both cases of orthogonal and nonorthogonal transmission by multiple users. Simulation results show that the jointly optimized beamforming and relay assignment not only save transmission bandwidth but can also maintain well the network SINRs.