Network-coded fronthaul transmission for cache-aided C-RAN

In this paper, we study the cache-aided cloud radio access network (C-RAN) with wireless fronthaul, where multiple cache-enabled users are served by multiple cache-enabled transmitters that are connected to a cloud processor through a wireless fronthaul link. We put forth a caching-and-delivery scheme that combines network-coded fronthaul transmission with cache-aided interference management. By broadcasting network-coded messages, the cloud processor provides additional information of the requested files to the transmitters, so as to reduce the edge delivery time. Based on our scheme, an achievable normalized delivery time (NDT) is derived with respect to the cache sizes and the fronthaul capacity.