Clustering-based adaptive low-power subframe configuration with load-aware offsetting in dense heterogeneous networks

Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) and cell densification represent promising solutions for the surging data traffic demand in wireless networks. In dense HetNets, user traffic is steered toward the Low-Power Node (LPN) when possible to enhance the user throughput and system capacity by increasing the area spectral efficiency. However, because of the transmit power differences in different tiers of HetNets and irregular service demand, a load imbalance typically exists among different serving nodes. To offload more traffic to LPNs and coordinate the Inter-Cell Interference (ICI), Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has facilitated the development of the Cell Range Expansion (CRE), enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) and Further enhanced ICIC (FeICIC). In this paper, we develop a cell clustering-based load-aware offsetting and an adaptive Low-Power Subframe (LPS) approach. Our solution allows the separation of User Association (UA) functions at the User Equipment (UE) and network server such that users can make a simple cell-selection decision similar to that in the maximum Received Signal Strength (max-RSS) based UA scheme, where the network server computes the load-aware offsetting and required LPS periods based on the load conditions of the system. The proposed solution is evaluated using system-level simulations wherein the results correspond to performance changes in different service regions. Results show that our method effectively solves the offloading and interference coordination problems in dense HetNets.