Cross-Layer Resource Allocation Scheme Under Heterogeneous Constraints for Next Generation High Rate WPAN

Abstract: In the next generation wireless networks, the growing demand for new wireless applications is accompanied with high expectations for better quality of service (QoS) fulfillment especially for multimedia applications. Furthermore, the coexistence of future unlicensed users with existing licensed users is becoming a challenging task in the next generation communication systems to overcome the underutilization of the spectrum. A QoS and interference aware resource allocation is thus of special interest in order to respond to the heterogeneous constraints of the next generation networks. In this work, we address the issue of resource allocation under heterogeneous constraints for unlicensed multiband ultra-wideband (UWB) systems in the context of Future Home Networks, i.e. the wireless personal area network (WPAN). The problem is first studied analytically using a heterogeneous constrained optimization problem formulation. After studying the characteristics of the optimal solution, we propose a low-complexity suboptimal algorithm based on a cross-layer approach that combines information provided by the PHY and MAC layers. While the PHY layer is responsible for providing the channel quality of the unlicensed UWB users as well as their interference power that they cause on licensed users, the MAC layer is responsible for classifying the unlicensed users using a two-class based approach that guarantees for multimedia services a high-priority level compared to other services. Combined in an efficient and simple way, the PHY and MAC information present the key elements of the aimed resource allocation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme provides a good tradeoff between the QoS satisfaction of the unlicensed applications with hard QoS requirements and the limitation of the interference affecting the licensed users.