A Device-Centric Scheme for Relay Selection in a Dynamic Network Scenario for 5G Communication

Abstract

Device-centric architecture is an aspect of fifth generation communication whereby devices/user equipment is able to directly communicate with other devices with minimal involvement by the base station (BS). However, devices that are not within their proximity area communicate with other devices (relay). In this paper, we propose a device-centric scheme for relay selection in a dynamic network scenario. In this scheme, once the communicating devices have reached the maximum distance threshold, they exchange neighbor tables and find common devices (relay) for further communication. In addition, we propose a new relay selection scheme for scenarios, where the devices have more than one device (relay) in common. The proposed relay selection scheme is based on several parameters, including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference plus noise ratio, residual battery power, buffer space, and reliability; this provides more reliable and efficient communication. The current relay schemes, including max–min and max–max, are network assisted; the network/BS decides the relay, which increases the load on the BS side. The BS selects relay based on channel state information or SNR, which does not provide efficient or reliable communication. Our proposed device-centric scheme depends less on the BS during relay selection, which reduces network overhead, and the relay selection scheme provides more efficient and reliable communication. A comparison with other relay selection schemes shows that our scheme is 30% more effective in each case.