Cluster Coordinator Node Based Inter-Cell Interference Management Methods in Heterogeneous Networks

3GPP LTE-Advanced (Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution-Advanced) as a next generation mobile communication standard introduced small base stations such as femto cells or pico cells, and D2D (Device-to-Device) communications between mobiles in the proximity in order to satisfy the needs of rapidly growing wireless data traffic. A diverse range of topics has been studied to solve various interference situations which may occur within a single cell. In particular, an introduction of a small base station along with D2D communication raises important issues of how to increase the channel capacity and frequency efficiency in HetNets (Heterogeneous Networks). To this end, we propose in this paper methods to manage the interference between the macro cell and other small cells in the HetNet to improve the frequency efficiency. The proposed CCN (Cluster Coordinator Node)-assisted ICI (Inter-Cell Interference) avoidance methods exploit the CCN to control the interference in HetNet comprising of an MeNB (Macro enhanced Node-B) and a large number of small cells. A CCN which is located at the center of a number of small cells serves to avoid the interference between macro cell and small cells. We propose methods of resource allocation to avoid ICI for user equipments within the CCN coverage, and evaluate their performance through system-level computer simulations.