Sum-Rate Maximization in the Multicell MIMO Multiple-Access Channel with Interference Coordination

This paper is concerned with the maximization of the weighted sum-rate (WSR) in the multicell MIMO multiple access channel (MAC). We consider a multicell network operating on the same frequency channel with multiple mobile stations (MS) per cell. Assuming the interference coordination mode in the multicell network, each base-station (BS) only decodes the signals for the MSs within its cell, while the inter-cell transmissions are treated as noise. Nonetheless, the uplink precoders are jointly optimized at MSs through the coordination among the cells in order to maximize the network weighted sum-rate (WSR). Since this WSR maximization problem is shown to be nonconvex, obtaining its globally optimal solution is rather computationally complex. Thus, our focus in this work is on low-complexity algorithms to obtain at least locally optimal solutions. Specifically, we propose two iterative algorithms: one is based on successive convex approximation and the other is based on iterative minimization of weighted mean squared error. Both solution approaches shall then reveal the structure of the optimal uplink precoders. In addition, we also show that the proposed algorithms can be implemented in a distributed manner across the coordinated cells. Simulation results show a significant improvement in the network sum-rate by the proposed algorithms, compared to the case with no interference coordination.