Dynamic Resource Allocation for Beyond 3G Cellular Networks

The Multicarrier CDMA Transmission Techniques for Integrated Broadband Cellular Systems (MATRICE) project addresses a candidate solution for a Beyond 3G (B3G) air-interface based on Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access (MC-CDMA). It investigates dynamic resource allocation strategies at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer to support the transport of Internet Protocol (IP) packets over the air-interface in a cost effective manner and maximise the cell capacity with a target QoS. A candidate Dynamic Resource Allocation (DRA) protocol architecture is proposed that is based on cross-layer signalling to provide reactive resource allocation according to the fast channel and traffic variations. In-line with B3G expectations, the proposed DRA handles a very large number of users with inherent flexibility and granularity necessary to support heterogeneous traffic, and still with limited complexity. Thanks to the modular architecture of the DRA, various scheduling policies are investigated and compared in terms of capacity and reactivity to the system environment. Simulation results have shown that the MATRICE system has the potential to deliver broadband heterogenous services in a cost-effective manner, and emerge as a propespective candidate air-interface for B3G cellular networks.