A joint resource optimization and adaptive modulation framework for uplink single‐carrier frequency‐division multiple access systems

Abstract

SummaryIn this paper, we study joint resource allocation and adaptive modulation in single‐carrier frequency‐division multiple access systems, which is adopted as the multiple access scheme for the uplink in the 3GPP Long Term Evolution standard. We formulate an adaptive modulation and sum‐cost minimization (JAMSCmin) problem. Unlike orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access, in addition to the restriction of allocating a subchannel to one user at most, the multiple subchannels allocated to a user in single‐carrier frequency‐division multiple access systems should be consecutive as well. This renders the resource allocation problem prohibitively difficult and the standard optimization tools (e.g., Lagrange dual approach widely used for orthogonal frequency‐division multiple access, etc.) cannot help towards its optimal solution. We propose a novel optimization framework for the solution of this problem that is inspired from the recently developed canonical duality theory. We first formulate the optimization problem as binary‐integer programming (BIP) problem and then transform this BIP problem into continuous space canonical dual problem that is the concave maximization problem. Based on the solution of the canonical dual problem, we derive joint resource allocation and adaptive modulation algorithm, which has polynomial time complexity. We provide conditions under which the proposed algorithm is optimal. We compare the proposed algorithm with the existing algorithms in the literature. The results show a tremendous performance gain. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.