Multiantenna Resource Scheduling via Proportional Fairness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multiantenna systems face challenges in achieving fair resource allocation among users, leading to inefficient use of resources and poor channel capacity distribution, as existing scheduling techniques prioritize users with higher average channel capacity over others, resulting in unfair allocation and potential under-allocation to users with lower channel states.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for allocating resources to individual users in a multiantenna system that determines a ratio of time slots based on channel capacity averages and standard deviations, using a Proportional Fair (PF) technique with a Control Variance (CV) scheduler to adjust coefficients for optimal resource allocation, ensuring resources are allocated in a desired ratio while maintaining multiuser diversity gain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a Best User Selection (BUS) scheduler is used to allocate resources to users with maximum channel capacity, then system throughput is improved, but fairness among users deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidfairness among users
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the scheduling parameter from pure channel capacity maximization to a composite metric that includes both channel capacity and fairness considerations. The proportional fair scheduler calculates a scheduling metric that combines instantaneous channel quality with historical throughput, dynamically adjusting the allocation parameter to balance throughput and fairness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each user's historical throughput is tracked and fed back into the scheduling decision. The proportional fair scheduler continuously monitors individual user throughputs and uses this feedback to adjust resource allocation, ensuring that users with lower historical throughput receive more resources in subsequent allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If resources are allocated to maximize overall system capacity, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but individual user channel capacity distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoidindividual user channel capacity distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the allocation parameter from total system capacity maximization to a proportional fairness metric that distributes capacity according to each user's historical performance. This parameter change ensures that spectrum efficiency is maintained while individual user capacity distribution becomes more equitable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an equipotential state in terms of throughput opportunity for all users by using the proportional fair metric. Each user is given an equal opportunity to achieve their proportional share of system capacity, preventing large disparities in individual user channel capacity distribution while maintaining overall spectrum efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Productivity

If conventional scheduling techniques prioritize users with higher average channel capacity, then system throughput is improved, but resource allocation fairness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidresource allocation fairness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional scheduling approach by giving priority to users with lower historical throughput rather than those with higher channel capacity. The proportional fair scheduler reverses the traditional priority rule, allocating more resources to users who have been underserved, thereby achieving fairness while maintaining system throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the scheduling priority parameter from channel capacity-based to fairness-based allocation. By using the proportional fair metric that incorporates historical throughput, the system transforms the allocation parameter to prioritize equitable distribution while preserving overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1708531B1Apparatus and method for scheduling resources in a multiantenna system
Publication Date: 2010.01.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP1708531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1708531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1708531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a scheduling apparatus and method for allocating resources to individual users in a multiantenna system. An upper layer determines resources to allocate to respective users one a long term, and provides the ratio to a scheduler. Then the scheduler determines coefficients appropriate for the provided ratio. On the assumption that a statistical channel characteristic for a user is constant for a predetermined time, the scheduler determines a channel capacity average and a standard deviation for the user. The scheduler schedules resource allocation for individual users according to the channel capacity average and standard deviation values, which are the statistical characteristic values, and instantaneous channel capacity fed back for the individual users, together with the found coefficients.