Dynamic eICIC - A Proactive Strategy for Improving Spectral Efficiencies of Heterogeneous LTE Cellular Networks by leveraging User Mobility and Traffic Dynamics

01 October 2013

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Enhanced Inter-cell Interference Co-ordination (eICIC) is a time-domain multiplexing technique for supporting and improving the performance of range extended pico cells deployed on the same carrier as a macro cellular LTE network. The primary eICIC setting is the number of almost blank subframes (ABS) muted at the macro that is used to improve SINRs and performance at the embedded picos. Network load in the cellular system varies as a result of user mobility and traffic dynamics (packet arrivals and departures). Our approach keeps the Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) continuously optimized for improved user experience, by adapting the ABS in response to variations in network load. We present an analytical formulation, which allows for a simple optimization and an intuitive understanding of the desired system response to load variation. Exhaustive system simulations illustrate the performance gains along different dimensions, such as spectral efficiency, fairness, mean file transfer times, number of file transmissions, number of file drops, and mean queue lengths. Furthermore, we study the impact of different mobility scenarios, traffic mixes, and adaptation rate. We also provide a brief discussion of practical considerations in implementing Dynamic eICIC. Hold