User clustering and energy efficient cooperation in cellular networks

We consider user clustering and cooperative transmission in cellular networks. Several physically close users form a cluster to share a single channel for external communication with the base station. The internal information exchange among clustered users is provided by short range device-to-device communication that reuses cellular channels being used by remote clusters. A channel allocation scheme with frequency reuse within the cell is designed to minimize maximum intra-cell interference. We analyze feasible distance for cluster forming and maximum signal to interference and noise ratio due to frequency reuse in such an environment. Our analysis and simulations demonstrate the feasibility of and benefits from the proposed scheme.