Two-tier distributed and open loop multi-point cooperation using SCMA

The fifth generation of cellular wireless networks known as 5G is based on user-centric non-cellular concept where the users are surrounded by many network nodes cooperating to serve the users providing a “cell-center” experience throughout the network. Traditional multi point cooperation techniques often rely on centralized coordination and require different and often stringent requirement on the central controller, backhaul capacity and overall network synchronization. A novel two tiered, open loop and distributed cooperation technique is proposed in this paper where the lower tier with fixed or slowly changing parameters and preferably using SCMA provide a ubiquitous performance to mobile users and users exposed to multiple network nodes, while the higher tier provides service to the users close to the network nodes and maintain the overall network throughput. Users scheduled by the lower tier signaling use joint detection techniques from multiple network nodes. Other users scheduled to the higher tier jointly decode the lower tier signal from one or multiple network nodes before proceeding with the detection of their intended signal. The proposed algorithm is based on distributed scheduling and imposes limited requirements on the central controller and backhaul capacity and does not require stringent network time and frequency synchronization among network nodes. Unlike traditional cooperation techniques, the proposed method is open loop and requires very limited feedback and signaling overhead. Performance evaluations show that the proposed technique provides significant network coverage enhancement especially for high speed mobile users.