Resource allocation in 5G heterogeneous networks with downlink‐uplink decoupled access

Abstract

Abstract Fifth‐generation (5G) heterogeneous network (HetNet) with downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) decoupled cell association strategy is a promising solution to challenges faced in fourth‐generation (4G) HetNet, ie, mitigating interference, addressing traffic imbalances, and enhanced sum‐rate. This work carries out performance analysis of 4G HetNet with DL and uplink coupled (DUCo) access scheme vs 5G HetNet with DL and UL decoupled (DUDe) access scheme employing outer approximation and heuristic algorithms. First, a mathematical model, mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, is formulated for DUCo access and DUDe access schemes considering cell association, addressing user traffic imbalances, mitigating interference, and sum‐rate maximization in HetNet. Then, the formulated problem is solved, employing outer approximation algorithm (OAA) to find near optimal solution. Similarly, heuristic algorithms are developed for DUCo access and DUDe access schemes considering cell association, addressing user traffic imbalances, mitigating interference, and sum‐rate maximization in HetNet. Detailed performance analysis of DUCo access and DUDe access schemes is done by comparing results employing OAA and heuristic algorithms. Simulation results have shown that proposed DUDe access scheme outperforms DUCo access scheme in HetNet in term of cell association, addressing user traffic imbalances, mitigating interference, and sum‐rate maximization.