Clustering and subband allocation for CoMP-based MIMO-OFDMA networks with soft frequency reuse

Abstract:
Coordinated multi-point (CoMP) and soft frequency reuse (SFR) schemes are effective techniques to improve the performance of users located in the cell-edge, typically exhibiting very poor signal-to-interference plus noise ratios (SINR). While the optimization of CoMP and SFR is relatively straightforward in deployments where base stations (BSs) are regularly positioned, their use in networks with an irregular topology is far from trivial, specially since the operation of these two mechanisms is not independent. This work tackles the joint design of the CoMP and SFR parameters by proposing a two-step strategy: firstly, a clusterization stage is conducted that, taking into account the frequency reuse, leads to the formation of the cooperative clusters. Secondly, a subband allocation stage takes care of assigning frequency bands to the different clusters while trying to minimize intercluster interference (ICI). Simulation results serve to confirm the benefits of sensibly combining both interference cancellation techniques in realistic as well as idealized network topologies.