Auction Based Resource Allocation for Balancing Efficiency and Fairness in OFDMA Relay Networks with Service Differentiation

This paper considers an OFDMA relay network and proposes an auction algorithm for the subchannel allocation to balancing efficiency and fairness with service differentiation. This algorithm allows users to fairly compete for the using of the subchannel through a new bidding strategy. We use the second-price sealed auction mechanism under which the dominant strategy of the bidder is bidding the true valuation of the subchannel. The users´ valuations to the subchannel are estimated by considering their minimum rate requirements, current channel conditions and the long term average data rates. The active index which can be chosen from the set provided by the system is introduced to differentiate the user´s willingness to pay for different services. For each subchannel, the user bids highest will be allocated the subchannel. The auction procedure can naturally realize a competitive fairness from the perspective of the users. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve different degrees of tradeoff between the system efficiency and fairness by using different active index set, satisfy the users´ minimum rate requirements and also provide differentiated services for different users.