Decentralized Cross-Layer Optimization for Energy-Efficient Resource Allocation in HetNets

In this paper, we develop a joint physical and medium access control (MAC) layer optimization (JPMO) scheme based on game theory for energy-efficient resource allocation and interference management in heterogeneous networks (HetNets). In HetNets, cross-tier interference and co-tier interference significantly limit the network performance. Moreover, when each user only has its own channel state information and chooses its transmission policy independently without any coordination mechanism, it will result in the network collapse or waste of channel resources. To maximize the network efficiency, we develop the JPMO scheme through pricing mechanism from the perspective of game theory. Then we transform this scheme into a two-stage Stackelberg game, in which macrocell determines the transmission policy in MAC layer first, and then SCs perform EE power allocation in physical layer. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.