Analysis of the Resource Distribution Schemes in LTE-Advanced Relay-Enhanced Networks

Nowadays with the introduction of smart phones along with the development of audio and video applications increase people's demands for the ubiquitous high-data rate coverage. One of the cost-effective solutions adopted in the Long-Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-Advanced) standard that extends coverage and enhances throughput is the placement of heterogeneous nodes: low-power Relay Nodes (RNs) are deployed to assist transmissions between an evolved Node B (eNB) and multiple User Equipments (UEs). In this framework resource allocation becomes an important and crucial problem that directly influences the potential capacity and coverage improvements. In this paper we overview the concepts of basic relaying and resource allocation in a relay-enhanced LTE-Advanced network. We investigate the performance of an analytical model for a relay-enhanced LTE-Advanced downlink channel, which is presented in detail. Various resource allocation schemes are analyzed, among which, according to the experimental analysis, the proportional one with constraints achieves the best performance. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014