Dynamic resource allocation architecture for IEEE802.16e: Design and performance analysis

Abstract

Mobile communications has witnessed an exponential increase in the amount of users, services and applications. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) targets to provide broadband connectivity to wide area coverage, both in fixed and in mobile environments, as well as in the provision of QoS constraints of those applications and services envisioned for Next Generation Networks (NGNs), which results in significant design challenges in the MAC (Medium Access Control) to provide the seamless transport of heterogeneous traffic in a cost-effective manner. This paper proposes a Dynamic Resource Allocation (DRA) architecture for the IEEE802.16e broadband wireless system (also known as Mobile WiMAX) that can provide operators the flexibility to deliver broadband traffic with high spectral efficiency. The proposed DRA architecture framework encompasses scheduler, Link Adaptation (LA), Resource Allocation (RA) and Hybrid Automated Repeat Request (HARQ) functional blocks which interwork seamlessly. The performance of the DRA was evaluated using commonly deployed scheduling policies: Max C/I, Proportional Fair and Round Robin schemes. Simulation results show that the proposed DRA scheme has the capacity to provide enhanced coverage and QoS provisioning for the area networks (WANs), such as the ones envisioned for B3G mobile wireless networks.