Multi-Cluster based Dynamic Channel Assignment for Dense Femtocell Networks

This paper proposes a novel channel assignment scheme called multi-cluster based dynamic channel assignment (MC-DCA) to improve system performance for the downlink of dense femtocell networks (DFNs) based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and frequency division duplexing (FDD). In order to dynamically assign channels for femtocell access points (FAPs), the MC-DCA scheme uses a heuristic method that consists of two steps: one is a multiple cluster assignment step to group FAPs using graph coloring algorithm with some extensions, while the other is a dynamic subchannel assignment step to allocate subchannels for maximizing the system capacity. Through simulations, we first find optimum parameters of the multiple FAP clustering to maximize the system capacity and then evaluate system performance in terms of the mean FAP capacity, unsatisfied femtocell user equipment (FUE) probability, and mean FAP power consumption for data transmission based on a given FUE traffic load. As a result, the MC-DCA scheme outperforms other schemes in two different DFN environments for commercial and office buildings. Keywords: OFDMA-FDD, Femtocell networks, Dynamic channel assignment, Multiple clustering, Graph coloring, Interference mitigation.