Tutorial 8: Dynamic Resource Allocation and Interference Avoidance for Wireless Networks

Presented by

Martin Schubert, Holger Boche

Abstract

Future wireless networks are expected to support high-rate services and high user densities. So current standardization programs (e.g. 3GPP LTE Advanced) are investing much effort in developing new strategies for efficiently distributing the available resources, while avoiding interference by dynamic scheduling and MIMO processing. In fact, interference is no longer just an important issue but rather emerges as the key performance limiting factor. The classical design paradigm of independent point-to-point communication links is gradually being replaced by a new network-centric model, where users cope with interference in an adaptive fashion. New mathematical tools are required for such cross-layer problems.

The tutorial gives a compact overview on key techniques and the state-of-the-art in the area of joint interference filtering and resource allocation, with an emphasis on MIMO systems. We begin by discussing motivating examples from the LTE-A standardization to long-term visions, including network MIMO concepts. Then we address the problem of jointly optimizing transmission powers and MIMO receivers or transmitters. This problem has an interesting analytical structure which allows for efficient algorithmic solutions.

In the next part of the tutorial we show that many previous results in the area of adaptive interference filtering and robust signal processing can be understood in a more general context of interference functions. This so-called “interference calculus” provides an axiomatic framework that is focused on the core properties “monotonicity” and “convexity”. This abstract mathematical approach leads to interesting analytical opportunities. As examples, we discuss the structure of interference functions and connections with game-theoretic strategies. Finally, we show how these results can be applied for the design of efficient iterative algorithms. Different optimization strategies are discussed with respect to fairness, overall efficiency, and suitability for decentralized implementation.

The presenter assumes no particular background for this tutorial, except for some familiarity with basic concepts from convex analysis and linear algebra. A basic understanding of multiantenna systems (MIMO) is helpful.

Speaker Biography

Martin Schubert received the diploma and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the Technische Universitaet, Berlin, Germany, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. In 1998 he joined the Heinrich-Hertz Institute for Telecommunications (HHI), Berlin, as a Research Assistant. Since 2003, he has been with the Fraunhofer German-Sino Lab for Mobile Communications (MCI), where he is working as a Senior Researcher. He is also Lecturer at the Technical University of Berlin. He has published 1 book, 4 book chapters, and around 120 papers in the areas of wireless communications, signal processing, and wireless networking. He is actively involved in industry projects working on new interference management strategies for LTE Advanced.

Dr. Schubert was co-chair of the 2009 VDE/EURASIP Workshop on Smart Antennas (WSA'09), and TPC member Glocecom'09, ICC'10, PIMRC'08, ICCCN'08-09, WSA'07-10. He was a corecipient of the VDE Johann-Philipp-Reis Award 2007 for outstanding, innovative contributions to the field of telecommunication. He coauthored the 2007 Best Paper Award of the IEEE Signal Processing Society.

Holger Boche (M'04 — SM'07) received his Dipl.-Ing. and Dr.-Ing. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, in 1990 and 1994, respectively. In 1992 he graduated in Mathematics from the Technische Universität Dresden, and in 1998 he received his Dr.~rer.~nat. degree in pure mathematics from the Technische Universität Berlin. From 1994 to 1997 he did postgraduate studies in mathematics at the Friedrich-Schiller Universitaet Jena, Germany. In 1997 he joined the Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) für Nachrichtentechnik Berlin. He is head of the Broadband Mobile Communication Networks department at HHI. Since 2002 he is Full Professor for Mobile Communication Networks at the Technische Universitaet Berlin at the Institute for Communications Systems, and since 2003 he is director of the Fraunhofer German-Sino Lab for Mobile Communications, Berlin, Germany. He was visiting professor at the ETH Zurich during winter term 2004 and 2006 and at KTH Stockholm during summer term 2005.

Prof. Boche received the Research Award “Technische Kommunikation” from the Alcatel SEL Foundation in October 2003, the “Innovation Award” from the Vodafone Foundation in June 2006, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) in 2008. He was co-recipient of the 2006 IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award and recipient of the 2007 IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award. He is a member of IEEE Signal Processing Society SPCOM and SPTM Technical Committee. He was elected a member of the German Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) in 2008.