Mode selection and resource allocation in uplink device-to-device enabled cloud radio access networks

Abstract

The device-to-device (D2D) enabled cloud radio access network (C-RAN) is regarded as a promising network architecture with high spectral efficiency and low latency. Considering that the centralized optimization puts heavy burdens on the fronthaul and baseband unit pool, the mode selection and resource allocation problem aiming at maximizing the system throughput in uplink is modeled as a coalition formation game with a partition form, which can be solved by a distributed algorithm. This algorithm's core idea is that D2D pairs autonomously optimize the resource allocation with mode selection under fronthaul capacity constraints by joining different coalitions based on the well-defined preference order. Simulation results show that enabling D2D can significantly improve the C-RAN throughput, and the performance gain strictly depends on the fronthaul capacity, and the distance between the transmitter and receiver of each D2D pair. Furthermore, the proposal can approach to the close optimum solution obtained by exhaustive search.