International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 232

Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

Reduction of Interference in Femtocell Network Using Allocation of

Resources through Hybrid Access Control
Qazi Urba Binti Kalim*, Y.R Manjunath**
*PG Student, Department Of Electronics and Communication, SJCIT, Chickballapur, Karnataka
** Assistant Professor, Department Of Electronics and Communication,, Chickballapur ,Karnataka

ABSTRACT
One of the most challenging issues in femto cell
deployment is to tackle inter-cell interference if macro
base-stations are also deployed in the same coverage
area. To tackle this interference an essential component
to look into is the allocation of resources between the
femto cell and the macro cell, when node density is low,
resource management techniques are particularly
effective. In this paper role of femtocells has been
looked into and to improve Quality of Service and
counter the effects of interfertence we have proposed a
Dynamic Resource allocation management algorithm for
spectrum shared hybrid access OFDMA femto cell
network. The proposed scheme is designed to ensure that
satisfaction of Femto Access point owners is met and
available resources are utilized to the maximum extent
based on network congestion. To study the quantitative
performance of Dynamic Resource Allocation
Management Algorithm a simulation setting is
developed and the performance in hybrid access-control
is compared to the closed and open access methods. The
analysis of performance reveals that larger number of
users get connected to the FAP ,without having a
negative impact on the satisfaction of owners ,by
allowing the macro cell to handover large number of
users in networks which are heterogeneous.

can be due to attenuation caused by certain building

structures. This is where femtocells can play their part,
as femtocell uses the high speed internet instead of the
conventional microwave signal routes to get connected
to the wider. phone network. Femtocells give high
flexibility to the end user also as these can be installed
anywhere where a suitable high speed internet is
available. The coverage of femto cells is small, typically
ranging within few meters from the FAP node.
Femtocells have an added advantage of being highly
efficient.
The mechanism which decides the permissibility for a
user to connect to the cell influences the operation of
access controlled Femtocell. The performance of FAP
hinges on the selection of method for access control. The
methods that can be used for access control are:
Open access
Closed access
Hybrid access
In open access, FAP allows all users within its range to
connect to the FAP network. This model is best suited to
be used in public places like universities, airports,
railway stations and shopping malls to ensure that users
in that area experience good coverage

Keywords - Femtocell network, inter-cell interference,

Co- channel interference, resource allocation,
interference avoidance

I.

INTRODUCTION

Femtocell, which is also known as femtocell access

point (FAP), is a promising technology that fills up the
coverage and capacity gaps in a heterogeneous network.
Femtocell aids the MBS by diverting some traffic from
it. This offloading of capacity of MBS helps operators
make substantial cost savings. A Femtocell is meant for
use indoor locations such as homes and offices or other
small locations. In areas where the signal from macro
base station is weak femto-cells can be very useful. It is
often observed that inside buildings phone signal can be
quite weak even if it is strong outside the building. This
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Figure 1: System model with different access

methods

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 233

Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

In the case of closed access, FAP does not allow access

to a subscriber who does not belong to particular group
even if the best signal quality to that subscriber is
provided by FAP. This helps avoid undesirable
interferences and congestion of traffic. Hybrid access
transacts with both challenges by reaching a middle
ground between the effect on the performance of
subscribers and the level of access granted to nonsubscribers. The amount of resources that is available to
the users who are within the coverage range i.e. random
users is limited. The FAP owners are given the authority
for usage of maximum service. Hybrid access provides a
viable solution to the shortcomings experienced in open
and closed access methods. The key challenge in
deployment of FAP is mitigation of interference. FAP
cause interference for neighbouring MBS and FAPs
operating in same frequency. One tactic that can be
employed to counter the issue of interference due to FAP
is access control. Two types of interference are observed
when FAPs are deployed in coverage area of MBS.
Between same network elements (such as two
femtocells) the interference observed is called Co-tier
interference. Interference observed between different
network elements (e.g. femto cell and macro cell) is
referred to as Cross- tier interference.
Co-tier interference: The interference between network
elements of the same tier is referred to as co-tier
interference. Two femto cells which are close together in
a femto cell network experience this type interference.
Cross-tier interference: The interference between
network elements belonging to different tiers is referred
as cross tier interference. Interference between femtocell
and macro cell fall under this category. For e.g. macro
cell base stations and femtocells experience cross tier
interference due to macro cell UEs and Femtocell UEs.
The femtocells and macro-base stations on their part act
as sources of downlink interference to nearby Femtocell
UEs and macro cell UEs. The co-tier and cross tier
interference results in substantial decrease in the
throughput of the network

II.

SYSTEM
MODELLING

ANALYSIS

AND

In the downlink OFDMA is resistant to interference due

to multipath. It allows for frequency domain scheduling,
advanced
MIMO
techniques
and
co-channel
deployment. To enable better signal quality if a user is in
coverage area of FAP it gives that FAP the highest
priority. This allows the MBS to be relaxed aiding it to
reduce user congestion. If FAP denies access to the user
it tries to retain its connection with the MBS so that

network disconnection and call drop can be avoided .In

this project in an area of 400m x 400m a two-tier
heterogeneous OFDMA downlink network is taken into
account with one MBS in the middle. In this area a
homogeneous Poisson Point Distribution (PPP) is used
for random distribution of FAPs in this area. The middle
of a rectangular house contains the FAPs.
It assumed that there is no overlap between FAPs and
MBS or between two FAPs. The distance between users
is considered to be at least 1m during the selection
process.3GPP-LTE conventional HATA small/large city
model is used to calculate the path loss among the users
and cells for outdoor scenarios. For a dense urban
environment this model is quite realistic. For indoor
scenarios, in case of both line-of-sight (LOS) and nonline-of-sight (NLOS), WINNER II channel model is
used. For NLOS users, losses due to wall penetration are
also taken into account.
For outdoor users
PLhata (dB) = 69.55 + 26.16log10 (fc[MHz]) 13.82
log10(hMBS) - [1.1log10(fc[MHz])-0.7] hm
[1.56log10)(fc[MhZ]) -0.8] +
[44.9 6.55log10 (hMBS)]log10 dkm
(1)
Where fc, hMBS , hm and dKm are frequency in MHz,
MBS antenna height, mobile equipment height and
distance between MBS and mobile equipment in Km,
respectively.
For indoor users
A WINNER II channel model is considered to model the
path loss for both line of sight and non-line of sight
indoor scenarios.
PLLOS(dB)=18.7log10dm+46.8+20 log10{fc[GHz]/5.0}
(2)
PLNLOS(dB)=20log10dm + 46.8 + 20 log10{fc[GHz]/5.0}
+ wLw
(3)
Where fc , dm , w , Lw are frequency in GHz, distance
between FAP and user, number of penetrated walls and
penetration loss for each wall, respectively.
For m number of macro users (outdoor users) and k
number of sub-carriers, the expression of SINR is:
SINRm,k =[PM,k Gm,M,k] / Nof + FPF,KGm,F.k ]

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(4)

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 234

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Where NO,f,PF,k ,PM,k, Gm,M,k,and Gm,F,k are white noise

power spectrum density, sub-carrier spacing, gain
(depends on path-loss), transmitting power of
neighboring FAP, transmitting power of serving MBS,
channel gain between the macro user and their serving
MBS on subcarrier k and channel of macro user and
neighboring FAP on sub-carrier k , respectively.
For f number of femto-users and k number of
subcarriers, the expression of SINR is:
SINRf,k =[PF,kGf,F,k / (N0f+PM,kGf,M,k+ _F PF',k,)
Gf,F',k)]
(5)
WherePF,k, and Gf,F,k, are the transmitting power of
neighboring FAP and channel gain between the femto
user and neighboring FAP, respectively.
The Okumura model is the result of extensive study to
compute the height of antenna and coverage area of
mobile communication systems. This is the most
popularly used path loss model that can give a prediction
of path loss in an urban area. This model is mainly used
to cover the typical characteristics of mobile
communication systems with cell radius being 1-100km
band of frequency is 500-1500 MHz and an antenna
height of 30 m to 1000 m.
The path loss at distance d in the Okumura model is
given as
PLOk(d)[dB] = PLF + AMU(f,d) GRx GTx + GAREA
(6)

complete system bandwidth, the frequency reuse factor

used is 1.

III.

RESOURCE
ALLOCATION
MANAGEMENT
ALGORITHM
(DRAMA) BASED HYBRID ACCESS

A combination of both central and distributed resource

management is used in the algorithm. The network is
controlled centrally by Radio Network Controller and
locally by the FAP. The connection between FAP and
Radio Network Controller (RNC) is over the backhaul.
To determine the relative positions of MBS and FAP is
the job of RNC. The strongest signal is synchronized
with the desired macro signal by FAP.
Cr Cf,{NR, R}

(6)

Where Cf , Cr and NR are the assigned capacity of FAP

Owner, random users and number of random user under
that FAP, respectively.
Assuming a hybrid resource distribution constant Kr
Kr = Cr/Cf,{x Kr : 0 x }

(7)

If Kr = all the resources of that FAP will be, assign to

the Random users.
If Kr = 0, the FAP will act like a Closed access FAP And
if Kr =1 , the FAP will act like an o open access FAP
For Hybrid access: 0 <Kr< 1

where AMU(f,d)is the medium attenuation factor at

frequency f, GRx and GTx are the antenna gains of Rx
and Tx antennas, respectively, andGAREA is the gain
for the propagation environment in the specific area.
We should note that for antenna gains GRx and GTx
factors like antenna pattern are not taken into account
and these are just a function of antenna height.
AMU(f,d) and GAREA can be referred to by the graphs
that have been derived empirically from actual
measurements by Okumura.
FAP has the retain the ability in OFDMA network to
allocate orthogonal frequency/time resources. A
simulation environment is developed in MATLAB to
simulate performance in all the access control methods.
In the simulation, the whole bandwidth is distributed
across resource blocks and each resource block is
allocated a certain number of sub-carriers. The FAPs,
which are deployed randomly, operate in the same
carrier frequency and bandwidth. To ensure each cell has

To ensure that a minimum assign capacity is maintained

for both type of users FAP allows NR number of random
users. A random user might experience a lower service
despite getting better coverage if the assigned bandwidth
for random users is not high enough. If a random users
gets better service from MBS, it will switch to the MBS.
All users in the network are divided into three
categories: FAP owners, MBS users and random users
who are being serviced by FAPs. The FAPs ensure that
minimum throughput demanded by the FAP owners is
serviced. Then the remaining resources are distributed to
random users under coverage of FAP resources are
allocated by the network on the basis of total population
of the functioning area. If the resources allocated to FAP
are high enough then MBS users can get handover to the
nearest FAP. After a specified time interval, the status of
the users and active Femto Access Points is updated by
the network.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 235

Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

TABLE I

ALGORITHIM

IV.

% both MBS and FAP are active in the system

for n=1 to N
n number of users gets active and looks for the
strongest cell coverage
if MBS has the strongest coverage than it connects to the
MBS
else
if the user is FAP owner, C f assigned by FAP
else the user is Random user, Cr assigned by FAP
end if
Calculate Nr
i=0
while i=0
calculate Cr and Cf
calculate MBS Cr
if FAP Cr > MBS Cr
i=1
else NR NR 1
end if
end while
end if
end for
_______________________________________
Once a user enters coverage area of FAP it gives higher
priority to the FAP for improved signal quality. In case
of hybrid access control method FAP an improved QoS
to the random users. The service for random users varies
with respect to network planning used by the operator.
Initially uninterrupted service to the owners is ensured
by the FAP. After that it utilizes the remaining resources
to serve a specified number of random users. The radio
network controller (RNC) decides on the minimum level
of service that each FAP assigns to the random user. The
FAP bases this decision on the congestion of users in the
network. Once FAP detects an active user within its
range, it performs a check for owner id. For each FAP
the subscribed owner id is different. Cf is reserved for
each owner and Cr for other users within the range. FAP
detects total number of users and selects NR.FAP also
calculates the throughput for owners and random users.
MBS calculates the available service for random users.
The FAP reduces NR by 1 each time to calculate the
higher service before executing, if the reserved
throughput for the random users from FAP is not higher
than the MBS.

SIMULATION RESULT

Using MATLAB a simulation environment is developed

to simulate the performance of the network. Simulations
are in accordance with the standards set by 3GPP and are
event based. The values plotted are the average of
independent 100 simulations. Cyclic prefix in LTE has a
standard length of 4.69 s. A tolerance of up to 1.4 km
in path variations with symbol length of 66.7 s can be
achieved because of this. The maximum data rate that
each subcarrier is capable of carrying is 15 Ksps (kilosymbols per second). In 64 QAM modulation we have 6
bits per symbol. Thus 10MHz can have a raw symbol
rate of 54 Mbps. This allows the system to
compartmentalize the data among subcarriers.
In practice we see that for any dense network the number
of owners is less than total number of floating users.
Thus increase in the overall QOS of the operators
depends on the consumption of random users. Hybrid
access shows a better performance when we take into
account the performance of network and satisfaction of
subscribers. For users who are facing more cross tier
interference the MBS can handover them. The reduction
in user congestion at MBS lessens the chance of cross
tier interference near FAPs
System Parameters

Value/Range

MBS
FAP
Active user
Active owners in FAP
Range of MBS
Range of FAP
MBS Antenna height
FAP Antenna height
User equipment height
Frequency
Bandwidth
Sub-carrier spacing
MBS transmission power
Macro antenna gain
FAP transmission power
Distribution time interval
Shadow fading std
White noise power density
Modulation Scheme
Number of Resource block
Sub-carrier per resource block
Resource block size
BER

1
1-15
200-600
3-5
400m
20m
30m
1m
1m
2GHz
10MHz
15KHz
46dBm
13dB
20dBm
400
6dB
-174dBm/Hz
64-QAM
50
12
180KHz
10-6

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 236

Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

In practice we see that for any dense network the number

of owners is less than total number of floating users.
Thus increase in the overall QOS of the operators
depends on the consumption of random users. Hybrid
access shows a better performance when we take into
account the performance of network and satisfaction of
subscribers. For users who are facing more cross tier
interference the MBS can handover them. The reduction
in user congestion at MBS lessens the chance of cross
tier interference near FAPs.

Figure 4. Avg. Throughput vs. number of FAPs

for 600 users and 5 owners per FAP

Figure 2 shows a sample layout of the simulation

Figure 3. Avg. Throughput vs. number of FAPs for 200 users

and 3 owners per FAP

As the deployment density of FAPs increases the

average throughput of every access mechanism also
increases. From figures we can observe that as the
number of active FAP increase the performance of MBS
and the overall system also increases. The performance
of hybrid access users is better when compared to the
performance of users of the other two access
mechanisms.
From fig 3, 4 we observe from the randomUE Average
Throughput vs Number of Femto cells graph, that the
random UE average throughput shows improvement in
hybrid access.This is because the unoccupied resources
from FAPs are allocated for random users in case of
hybrid access.The random users who access FAP
observe better throughput than users accessing over
MBS.Closed access restrict random users to connect to
FAPs resulting in very low throughput for random users
in this access method.
From the FAP owner Average throughput vs Number of
femto cells graph shows that FAP owners get highest
throughput in closed access. Hybrid access however is
able to maintain the right balance between serving the
FAP owners and providing resources for random users.
We observe from the equations that as the height of UE
antenna increases the path loss decreases. In case of
HATA model, shown above, the height of UE is

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 237

Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

considered a non-variable quantity of 10m.Okumura

model provides us with the flexibility to vary the height
of UE up to 100m.This enables us to further decrease the
path loss. This is illustrated in the graph below.

In both the above graphs for hybrid access we observe

that the performance in case of Okumura model is
superior to that in HATA model. This is because path
loss is reduced more in Okumura model than in HATA
model.

V.

CONCLUSION

This paper proposes an algorithm for hybrid access

method in a Femtocell network. By diverting some users
to FAPs the network can offload excess load from MBS.
It uses the unutilized resources and provides better level
of service for random users. Taking capacity into
account, it makes sure that minimum resources are
provided to the FAP owners and the rest are used to
assist offloading of MBS. The users offloaded to the
FAP are assigned to OFDMA sub channels and their
potential to cause interference in the network is nullified.
Interference between macro cells and femto cells is
minimized and thereby increases network performance.
The above graph shows the comparison between
Okumura and HATA model. The Okumura model shows
better performance than HATA model. As stated
previously, the Okumura model provides more
flexibility(upto 100m) in terms of varying height of UE
compared to HATA model(fixed at 10m). This allows
more reduction in path loss in Okumura model in case of
hybrid access compared to HATA model. This leads to
better average throughput in Okumura model as
compared to HATA model.

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Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2015, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

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