User clustering and robust beamforming design in multicell MIMO-NOMA system for 5G communications

Abstract

In this paper, we present a robust beamforming design to tackle the weighted sum-rate maximization (WSRM) problem in a multicell multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) – non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) downlink system for 5G wireless communications. This work consider the imperfect channel state information (CSI) at the base station (BS) by adding uncertainties to channel estimation matrices as the worst-case model i.e., singular value uncertainty model (SVUM). With this observation, the WSRM problem is formulated subject to the transmit power constraints at the BS. The objective problem is known as non-deterministic polynomial (NP) problem which is difficult to solve. We propose an robust beamforming design which establishes on majorization minimization (MM) technique to find the optimal transmit beamforming matrix, as well as efficiently solve the objective problem. In addition, we also propose a joint user clustering and power allocation (JUCPA) algorithm in which the best user pair is selected as a cluster to attain a higher sum-rate. Extensive numerical results are provided to show that the proposed robust beamforming design together with the proposed JUCPA algorithm significantly increases the performance in term of sum-rate as compared with the existing NOMA schemes and the conventional orthogonal multiple access (OMA) scheme.