Modeling and performance evaluation of resource allocation for LTE femtocell networks

This chapter provides an introductory treatment of simulation modeling and performance evaluation for resource allocation in Long Term Evolution (LTE) femtocell networks. Two resource allocation schemes, namely centralized dynamic frequency planning (C-DFP) and distributed random access (DRA) are used as reference schemes for simulation modeling and performance evaluation. The chapter first provides an overview of the C-DFP and DRA schemes, followed by an outline of modeling LTE femtocell networks. Then, we demonstrate the implementation of the two schemes using the open-source LTE-Sim simulator and describe the creation of an LTE femtocell network model using the simulator for performance evaluation. Several key performance metrics are used to evaluate the performance of the C-DFP and DRA schemes in various aspects. Through the simulation results obtained, the strengths and weaknesses of the two schemes are drawn. In the end, the simulations provide an efficient means to study LTE resource allocation, thus allowing users to gain useful insights into the phenomena that affect the performance of LTE networks without delving into mathematical complexities.