Jointly optimal downlink beamforming and base station assignment

We present an algorithm that jointly determines the optimal downlink beamformers and the optimal assignment of each mobile to a base station. The optimality criterion is based on a systems perspective; provide sufficient quality of service for all users, transmitting as little excess power as possible. Since the algorithm is centralized and requires knowledge about all the channels in the system, it may be infeasible in a practical implementation. However, it provides the ultimate benchmark in system evaluations. Numerical examples show substantial gain compared to ordinary base station assignment.