Algorithms for resource allocation in data transfer over EGPRS networks

The third generation (3G) mobile system will be based on the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and will begin with the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Finally the additional channel capacity offered by the Enhanced Data-rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) will bring 3G services to users of these systems. This final system is often regarded as part of the 3G family and is referred to as Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS). Our goal is to investigate the efficiency of different algorithms used for resource allocation in data transfer over EGPRS networks. We consider a number of users in a cell that want either to send or to receive data and a centralized controller known as the packet control unit (PCU). The PCU is the part of the base station sub-system (BSS) which performs the arbitration mechanism to share the radio resources between users. The users can use nine different channel coding schemes, each one allowing a certain bit rate, but for the purposes of this discussion it is assumed that users can only use coding schemes one and two (CS1 and CS2) as a higher degree of flexibility is unimportant to this investigation.