Optimizing bandwidth allocation in cellular networks with multirate traffic

The efficient allocation of bandwidth in a cellular network with integrated heterogeneous ATM traffic poses a challenging problem, as the exact traffic mix or other detailed traffic descriptions are typically unknown in these networks. We present a an efficient solution that uses traffic parameters consisting only of the aggregated average traffic load in each cell and the available total bandwidth for each cluster of cells. We demonstrate that the proposed "Fair Share" algorithm can do significantly better than the intuitive load proportional bandwidth allocation. Furthermore, while for practicality the proposed method uses only aggregated traffic information, the solution provides a performance guarantee for even the most congested cells. The solution, built on nontrivial mathematical results, is simple, robust and well suited for practical implementation.