MCS and sub-band selection for downlink interference coordination in LTE-A Femtocells

Abstract

This paper proposes a decentralized algorithm for interference coordination in LTE-A networks, based on the exchange of information (pricing) at control plane level. In our approach, every user equipment (UE) report the maximum modulation and coding scheme (MCS) that can be used within several sets (sub-bands) of available resource blocks, along with a parameter (cost) that measures the MCS degradation due to the transmission from an interfering neighbor. Through the exchange of pricing messages, the higher costs are distributed to the dominant interferers; and the selection of the MCS and operational sub-band is based on the current link conditions along with the received pricing messages. We evaluate the algorithm in a cellular area covered by a macro base station (MBS) and multiple active femtocells. We also measure the degradation due to the quantization of the exchanged cost values. The results demonstrate significantly enhanced performance as compared to the non-coordinated case.