On the Feasibility of Full-Duplex Large-Scale MIMO Cellular Systems

This paper concerns the feasibility of full-duplex large-scale multiple-input-multiple-output cellular systems. We first derive the analytic model of the ergodic achievable sum-rate for cell-boundary users. The model is derived by applying a simple linear filter, i.e., matched filter or zero-forcing filter, to the base-station (BS). In the analytic model, we consider large-scale fading, pilot contamination, transmitter noise, and receiver distortion. In addition, to solve the critical pilot overhead problem induced by self-interference channel estimation, we propose a pilot transmission scheme-the simultaneous pilot transmission (SPT)-and assess its performance, in terms of the ergodic sum-rate. In considering two multicell scenarios, cooperative and non-cooperative multicell systems, we obtain the ergodic achievable sum-rate by reflecting the characteristic of each scenarios, such as limited front-haul capacity and procedures of channel estimation. With all derived results, to investigate the feasibility, we observe the tradeoffs between the full- and half-duplex systems, between the SPT and conventional scheme, and between the two multicell scenarios with respect to various system parameters and environment. In the end, we confirm the tightness of our analytic model and advantages of full-duplex, SPT, and cooperation of BSs in our system model.