Stackelberg game approach for resource allocation in device-to-device communication with heterogeneous networks

Abstract

Device-to-device communication is an enabling technology for direct connection between two or more devices/users without the intermediation of a base station (BS). In heterogeneous device-to-device networks, technology such as femtocell suggests advantages such as improving coverage area, spectral efficiency, and increased capacity. However, several challenging issues like interference, resource allocation, and power control strategies need to be addressed in the macrocell–femtocell-D2D heterogeneous network. This research presents a solution for resource allocation in D2D networks by proposing a Stackelberg game approach to increase network performance and throughput. The proposed study examines a framework for a two-leader multiple-followers Stackelberg game in which the leaders are macrocell base station (MBS) and femtocell base station (FBS), and the numerous followers are D2D pairings. Based on their mobility in the cell zone, D2D users are divided into three types Each leader and follower are designed with a different utility function. The paper is focused to minimize the interference in the system and maximize the system throughput. The game is solved to a Stackelberg equilibrium and ensures D2D communication continues with optimal transmit power. The assignment of resources among various contending users using the Hungarian algorithm. The proposed model is validated through simulations in MATLAB. The results show that the proposed model reduced the interference in the network and increased the throughput of the system in terms of price, transmit power and D2D rate.