Distributed Interference Management and Scheduling in LTE-A Femto Networks

We design novel mechanisms and algorithms for fast, simple, and distributed interference management and scheduling in wireless femto networks via exchange of information over-the-air (OTA). We focus on Long Term Evolution (LTE) of the 3GPP standard and on the downlink; we leverage the existing signalling in LTE and delineate additional signals that are needed. Key aspects of our work include: (1) the design is based on only one round of exchange of very few bits of information in each subframe (of 1 ms), (2) the algorithm is a heuristic derived from the maximum weight scheduling algorithm for a realistic interference model, and (3) the framework allows for easy control of fairness for best effort flows, control of delay tails for delay sensitive QoS flows, and relative prioritization between best effort and QoS flows. The performance of the mechanisms and algorithms is validated using system simulations based on 3GPP evaluation methodology.