Auction framework for resource allocation in AF-OFDMA systems

We develop an auction-based algorithm for joint allocation of resources, namely power profiles at the source and relay nodes and subcarrier assignment profile for multiple users amplify and forward (AF) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system. The proposed algorithm is based on sequential single item auction, where each user submits a bid based on either the marginal increase or the relative marginal increase of the data rate after using that subcarrier with optimal power profiles at the source and relay nodes. The first bidding strategy maximizes the sum data rate, whereas the second bidding strategy maximizes the fairness index. In both cases, the subcarrier is assigned to the user who submits the highest bid. The algorithm proceeds in a sequential fashion until all subcarriers are assigned. The system throughput and fairness indices are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Numerical results are used to show the merits of the proposed algorithm.