WPR.8 - Scheduling and adaptive radio resource assignment

Objectives

This WP will address issues related to the design of radio resource assignment and scheduling techniques, under a cross-layer approach, considering both centralized and distributed paradigms, radio interfaces exploiting time, frequency and space diversity. Emphasis will be given to 4G networks, and in particular to LTE and LTE-A.

Description of work

Scheduling refers to the assignment of proper time periods for transmission of information in single or multi-user contexts.

Fast radio resource assignment techniques refer to the selection for each single time period of the proper transport format, including energy level, signal waveform, bandwidth, etc.

Packet scheduling techniques received attention for decades since when packet switched networks were invented. They were obviously based on application-dependent paradigms. Then, 20 years ago, packet scheduling was applied to wireless networks, and the need to make it channel-dependent was immediately recognized. In the last few years, the increasing success of cross-layer approaches introduced the concept of joint design of scheduling and PHY-related techniques, such as modulation and coding. Basically, scheduling and fast radio resource assignment techniques are now jointly considered. We will refer to them as “scheduling techniques” in the following.

Moreover, the increase of the complexity of air interface techniques let the interest of researchers move from the exploitation of time diversity to frequency and space directional diversity. LTE and LTE-A systems, based on OFDMA or single carrier PHY techniques, will fully exploit all these diversity potentials.

In the next few years, scheduling techniques will be based on complex paradigms accounting for proper cooperation with all protocols and techniques implemented in a device (from PHY to application). This will require cross-layer approaches to the design of scheduling techniques. Furthermore, the application of scheduling techniques to self-organising distributed networks will require proper re-consideration of the concept of packet scheduling.

This WP will be subdivided in two tasks. For both of them, literature review will be performed, and an integrated effort will be devoted to the creation of new algorithms based on cross-layer approaches and especially to devise new paradigms (not based on heuristics like since today) for the design of scheduling techniques. In both cases, emphasis will be given to 4G and in particular to LTE and LTE-A networks: the reference scenarios for design and performance evaluation will be chosen accordingly. Both Tasks will evolve to the consideration of heterogeneous air interfaces during the third year of the project.

Joint research will be performed through the definition of Joint Research Activities, set up and terminated based on the available resources.

Task TR8.1: Scheduling techniques for multi-carrier and space division systems

This task will examine the state of the art on and will investigate the design of scheduling algorithms for wideband systems using multi-carrier techniques such as OFDMA and/or space division techniques based on multiple antennas. Particular emphasis will be given to LTE and LTE-A air interfaces.

Main players: UPC, IASA, CNIT

Task TR8.2: Scheduling techniques for self-organising and distributed networks

This task will examine the state of the art on and will investigate the design of scheduling algorithms for self-organising networks such as wireless mesh, ad hoc and sensor/actuator networks. Particular emphasis will be given to LTE and LTE-A air interfaces.

Main player: CTTC