Resource Allocation Algorithm for Sensing Video Transmission Over Cell-Free Radio Access Networks

Abstract

This paper proposes a communication-aware, game-theoretic bandwidth allocation strategy for multi-user visual data transmission over cell-free networks, addressing the joint optimization of resource efficiency and perceptual quality from the perspective of network operators. Unlike traditional video transmission frameworks, the models of the visual data we proposed in this paper(including images, video streams, and graphical content) integrating Quality of Service (QoS) into the resource pricing mechanism. The wireless resource pricing derived from this strategy that ensures joint optimization of operator-centric revenue and user-centric QoS fairness, achieving supply-demand equilibrium with stable Nash equilibrium solutions. To accommodate the diverse characteristics of visual data (e.g., varying compression ratios, latency sensitivity, and semantic value), we propose to construct a fair and adaptive utility function that is aligned with the operator’s business priorities. This function not only guarantees weighted fairness among users but also enables dynamic adjustment based on real-time network conditions and content-aware-criticality. Users participate in mutual game-theoretic interactions governed by the operator’s bandwidth pricing scheme, strategically optimizing their transmission strategies to maximize perception-driven utility functions. Furthermore, we introduce a lightweight cross-layer feedback mechanism between the communication and application layers, which enables the operator to dynamically adjust pricing policies in response to fluctuating visual data demands, including sudden high-priority surveillance feeds and bandwidth-intensive AR/VR streaming applications. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach successfully achieves Nash equilibrium solutions with stable pricing equilibrium, while delivering significantly improved QoS fairness when compared to conventional video-only allocation schemes. The proposed bandwidth allocation algorithm can be applied to multi-UAV scenarios for target tracking and video transmission.