Mobile Data Offloading With Almost Blank Subframe in LTE-LAA and Wi-Fi Coexisting Networks Based on Coalition Game

The problem of spectrum scarcity has raised the prospect of coexisting network. For example, long-term evolution-licensed-assisted access (LTE-LAA & Wi-Fi) can operate in the same frequency band. However, interference between the two different radio access technologies can severely reduce the performances of both networks. To mitigate this interference, the concept of an almost blank subframe (ABS) has been proposed. However, because the LTE-LAA macrocell must remain silent, this provides no incentive for its throughput enhancement. In this letter, we propose a transaction between LTE-LAA and Wi-Fi using ABS together with offloading. We model a time-resource utility model by jointly considering the resource consumed for ABS and offloading, and then formulate a coalition game. To achieve the solution of a coalition game, we consider two fairness concepts: min-max and Shapley fairness. We then verify the performance of the proposed game using simulations. It is shown that the proposed game model can improve resource utilization through the joint use of ABS and offloading.