On distributed scheduling for wireless networks with time-varying channels

textWireless scheduling is a fundamental problem in wireless networks that involves scheduling transmissions of multiple users in order to support data flows with as high rates as possible. This problem was first addressed by Tassuilas and Ephremides, resulting in the celebrated Back-Pressure network scheduling algorithm. This algorithm schedules network links to maximize throughput in an opportunistic fashion using instantaneous network state information (NSI), i.e., queue and channel state knowledge across the entire network. However, the Back-Pressure (BP) algorithm suffers from various drawbacks - (a) it requires knowledge of instantaneous NSI from the whole network, i.e. feedback about time-varying channel and queue states from all links of the network, (b) the algorithm requires solving a global optimization problem at each time to determine the schedule, making it highly centralized. Further, Back-pressure algorithm was originally designed for wireless networks where interference is modeled using protocol interference model. As recent break-throughs in full-duplex communications and interference cancelation techniques provide greatly increased capacity and scheduling flexibility, it is not clear how BP algorithm can be modified to improve the data rates and reduce the delay. In this thesis, we address the drawbacks of Back-Pressure algorithm to some extent. In particular, our first work provides a new scheduling algorithm (similar to BP) that allows users to make individual decisions (distributed) based on heterogeneously delayed network state information (NSI). Regarding the complexity issue, in our second work, we analyze the performance of the greedy version of BP algorithm, known as Greedy Maximal Scheduling (GMS) and understand the effect of channel variations on the performance of GMS. In particular, we characterize the efficiency ratio of GMS in wireless networks with fading. In our third and fourth work, we propose and analyze new scheduling algorithms that can benefit from new advancements in interference cancelation techniques.Electrical and Computer Engineerin