Mode selection schemes for unicasting device‐to‐device communications supported by network coding

Summary Device‐to‐device (D2D) communication in a cellular spectrum increases the spectral and energy efficiency of local communication sessions, while also taking advantage of accessing licensed spectrum and higher transmit power levels than when using unlicensed bands. To realize the potential benefits of D2D communications, appropriate mode selection algorithms that select between the cellular and D2D communication modes must be designed. On the other hand, physical‐layer network coding (NWC) at a cellular base station—which can be used without D2D capability—can also improve the spectral efficiency of a cellular network that carries local traffic. In this paper, we ask whether cellular networks should support D2D communications, physical‐layer NWC, or both. To this end, we study the performance of mode selection algorithms that can be used in cellular networks that use physical‐layer NWC and support D2D communications. We find that the joint application of D2D communication and NWC scheme yields additional gains compared with a network that implements only one of these schemes, provided that the network implements proper mode selection and resource allocation algorithms. We propose 2 mode selection schemes that aim to achieve high signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio and spectral efficiency, respectively, and take into account the NWC and D2D capabilities of the network. Devices in the proximity of each other and in coverage area of a cellular network can use traditional cellular communication, device‐to‐device (D2D) communication, and various forms of network coding to establish a bidirectional communication session. In this paper, we show that network‐assisted D2D communication and network coding can be advantageously combined to boost the signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio and spectral efficiency, if appropriate mode selection schemes are used.