Hello Community Members,
Today, in this post I will briefly explain about Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) and its techniques.
What is Inter-Cell Interference?
Technological advancement in Mobile communication network has resulted in massive increase in mobile broadband demand. The required traffic requirements are fulfilled with dense deployment of cells and rapid efforts to reuse the existing frequencies for cost saving. Where dense cells deployment optimizes the frequency and fulfill bandwidth requirement, it also cases interference between the cells. This interference is called inter-Cell Interference (ICI).
Inter-Cell Interference impacts the overall performance of the network in terms of throughput, utilization, network capacity and customer experience. For efficient use of frequency spectrum and to ensure customer satisfaction, it becomes imperative to use various techniques to curb the ICI.
Inter-Cell Interference Coordination:
Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) is a set of various techniques to grapple or minimize the ICI. These ICIC techniques are normally divided into three major categories: Centralized, Decentralized and Hybrid. In Centralized ICIC techniques, a central unit manages the overall network quality by collecting the interference related information and then providing resource optimization solutions. In decentralized ICIC techniques, each cell devises the mechanism for optimal resource allocation without coordination with any other cell or a centralized management or control unit. Decentralized ICIC techniques are normally used for large-sized network. Lastly, the hybrid approach is a compromise between centralized and decentralized ICIC techniques.
Moreover, ICIC techniques are classified in terms of their working principles as well. Each classification has its own ICIC techniques and well-defined standards to minimize the ICI.
Inter-Cell Interference Coordination Techniques:
As previously mentioned, there are several ICIC technique classes that are used depending upon the cellular network size, type and complexity. First class is frequency re-use that uses optimal frequency re-use factor and optimal dimension for cell edge zones and cell centers. [Hua05], [HA09] & [Ass08] are key examples of ICIC techniques in this regards.
Second class consists on cooperative approaches. In this class a central entity is responsible for sharing limitations of resources and each base stations decides its own way for resource optimization. Frequency scheduling is third class of ICIC techniques in which central management unit collects the interference information from the cells resource allocation is done with the help of channel quality indicator (CQI). Femtocell-Aware is the fifth class in which frequency spectrum is divided into dedicated macro-portion to curb the interference among the User Equipments (UEs). Then comes the Graph Theory, sixth class, in which relation of interference among different UEs is plotted and resources are adjusted as per need of active UEs. Seventh class is Game theory. In this class, each cell optimizes its own resources and maximizes its utility. The maintenance of Nash equilibrium reduces the overall local interference in the network leading to global optimization of the network. Convex Optimization is the eight class for ICIC a single cell OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) network is considered and energy efficiency is enhances. [VZRB15] & [XLZ+12] are some examples of Convex Optimization ICIC class. Last, but not the least, power minimization is ICIC class that focuses on minimizing the total transmission power consumption.
In a nutshell, various ICIC technique classes can be used to minimize the interference between the cells and to improve edge data rates, overall capacity of the network and reduce the data bit error rate for better user experience of end user customer.
You're welcome to leave your feedback about this post through the comment box below or leave a private message!
Read my post at here and for my author collection posts, visit & subscribe my personal FAYSALJI's Author Collection, which contains his most valuable articles written around the area of
Wireless & Microwave as an Author on the Huawei Enterprise
Community. Enjoy the read!
