Method and apparatus for resource allocation satisfying multiple performance constraints

Abstract

A low-complexity, efficient Radio Resource Allocation method performed by a base station of a wireless communication network allocates a first plurality of frequency resources among a second plurality of requesting mobile terminals. Each mobile terminal employs a service such that two or more services are represented in the second plurality. The RRA method satisfies all of an exclusivity constraint that each frequency resource is allocated to only one mobile terminal, an adjacency constraint that all frequency resources allocated to any given mobile terminal are contiguous in a frequency domain, and a minimum service requirement constraint that a predetermined number of the mobile terminals employing each service be granted a required data rate. The RRA method comprises two phases: Unconstrained Maximization and Reallocation. In the Unconstrained Maximization phase, frequency resources are iteratively allocated to mobile terminals in an opportunistic way, obeying the exclusivity and adjacency constraints but without concern for the minimum service requirement constraint; the resulting allocation is tested for fulfillment of the minimum service requirement constraint; and one or more mobile terminals are removed from the allocation based on the minimum service requirement constraint test. In the Reallocation phase, frequency resources from one or more mobile terminals that have their required data rate fulfilled are reallocated to one or more mobile terminals that do not have their required data rate fulfilled.