LTE Cellular Networks Packet Scheduling Algorithms in Downlink and Uplink Transmission: A Survey

This survey paper provides a detailed explanation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular network’s packet scheduling algorithms in both downlink and uplink directions. It starts by explaining the difference between Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) that is used in downlink transmission, and Single Carrier – Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) is used in uplink. Then, it explains the difference between the LTE scheduling process in the donwlink and uplink through explaining the interaction between users and the scheduler. Then, it explains the most commonly used downlink and uplink scheduling algorithms through analyzing their formulas, characteristics, most suitable conditions for them to work in, and the main differences among them. This explanation covers the Max Carrier-toInterference (C/I), Round Robin (RR), Proportional Fair (PF), Earliest Deadline First (EDF), Modified EDF-PF, Modified-Largest Weighted Delay First (M-LWDF), Exponential Proportional Fairness (EXPPF), Token Queues Mechanism, Packet Loss Ratio (PLR), Quality Guaranteed (QG), Opportunistic Packet Loss Fair (OPLF), Low Complexity (LC), LC-Delay, PF-Delay, Maximum Throughput (MT), First Maximum Expansion (FME), and Adaptive Resource Allocation Based Packet Scheduling (ARABPS). Lastly, it provides some concluding remarks