Opportunistic Scheduling in Heterogeneous Networks: Distributed Algorithms and System Capacity

Abstract: In this work, we design and analyze novel distributed scheduling algorithms for multi-user MIMO systems. In particular, we consider algorithms which do not require sending channel state information to a central processing unit, nor do they require communication between the users themselves, yet, we prove their performance closely approximates that of a centrally-controlled system, which is able to schedule the strongest user in each time-slot. Our analysis is based on a novel application of the Point-Process approximation. This novel technique allows us to examine non-homogeneous cases, such as non-identically distributed users, or handling various QoS considerations, and give exact expressions for the capacity of the system under these schemes, solving analytically problems which to date had been open. Possible application include, but are not limited to, modern 4G networks such as 3GPP LTE, or random access protocols.