Wireless Network Utility Maximization

We describe wireless network utility maximization, WNUM, and compare its performance to traditional NUM along the dimensions of rate, delay and reliability under flat fading. Both coded and uncoded links are considered as are networks with interfering links. In each case, WNUM is shown to offer superior performance in simulations operating under Rayleigh fading due to its ability to adapt to changing channel conditions. A general method for finding adaptive optimal policies is presented that is sample-based and that makes no assumptions about the distribution of channel states.