Channel assignment in cellular radio using genetic algorithms

Abstract

The channel assignment problem has become increasingly important in mobile telephone communication. Since the usable range of the frequency spectrum is limited, the optimal assignment problem of channels has become increasingly important. Recently Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have been proposed as new computational tools for solving optimization problems. GAs are more attractive than other optimization techniques, such as neural networks or simulated annealing, since GAs are generally good at finding an acceptably good global optimal solution to a problem very quickly. In this paper, a new channel assignment algorithm using GAs is proposed. The channel assignment problem is formulated as an energy minimization problem that is implemented by GAs. Appropriate GAs operators such as reproduction, crossover and mutation are developed and tested. In this algorithm, the cell frequency is not fixed before the assignment procedures as in the previously reported channel assignment algorithm using neural networks. The average generation numbers and the convergence rates of GAs are shown as a simulation result. When the number of cells in one cluster are increased, the generation numbers are increased and the convergence rates are decreased. On the other hand, with the increased minimal frequency interval, the generation numbers are decreased and the convergence rates are increased. The comparison of the various crossover and mutation techniques in a simulation shows that the combination of two points crossover and selective mutation technique provides better results. All three constraints are also considered for the channel assignments: the co-channel constraint, the adjacent channel constraint and the co-site channel constraint. The goal of this paper is the assignment of the channel frequencies which satisfied these constraints with the lower bound number of channels.