A Game-Theoretic Model for Radio Resource Management in a Cooperative WIMAX/HSDPA Network

In this paper, we focus on the joint radio resource management (RRM) for HSDPA/WiMAX cooperation. We use a generic Markovian model to model the evolution of data calls in a multi-cell and multi-access context. We apply this model to a cooperative WiMAX/HSDPA network considering both inter-cell and vertical handovers and calculate the steady-state probabilities and the performance indicators taking into account intra-cell and inter-cell mobility. Then, we detail two RRM approaches: a game-theory based RRM approach and a RRM approach based on the maximization of the global network utility. In the first approach, the RRM decision is taken by the mobile terminals (MTs) but the network takes over if necessary, while the second approach is completely network-centric. Finally, we compare both RRM approaches on the basis of the defined performance indicators. The main results show that the game-theoretic method achieves better performances than the global-utility maximization method.