Resource Allocation Method for Inter-Cell Interference Coordination in Heterogeneous Networks with Almost Blank Subframe

In order to coordinate the inter-cell interference and improve the total system throughput in heterogeneous networks (HetNets), almost blank subframe (ABS) is introduced in this paper. Based on the analysis of the existing system interference, a model is formulated as a generalized assignment problem (GAP). By using ant colony optimization (ACO), the macro cell and pico cell resource allocation problem and user equipment (UE) assignment problem are jointly solved. Simulation results show that, compared with other algorithms proposed in the reference paper and the two kinds of fixed enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) patterns, this proposed method can improve the total system throughput significantly.