20162016
IEEE6th
6thInternational
InternationalAdvanced
Conference
Coordinated Inter Cell Interference Avoidance Techniques and Performance
Parameters for Cross Layer Interference in LTE-A Network
Mrs. Dhara C. Shah
Research Scholar
Symbiosis International University
Symbiosis Institute of Technology
Pune, India
dhara.shah@sitpune.edu.in
Abstract- The aim of the paper is to discuss and analyze the
recent solutions based on coordinated Inter Cell Interference
(ICI) techniques premeditated by researchers. The most
thriving need of improved spectral density and user data
throughput demands dense deployment of base stations and
simultaneous resource allocation in same geographical area.
This approach eases the problem of spectrum scarcity but
increases ICI drastically. The higher generations of wireless
network demand support of real time applications like video
streaming, interactive online gaming, on demand data
streaming and many more. To support these applications, wide
bandwidth is essential. The 4th generation (4G) based on Long
Term Evolution (LTE), advance releases (Rel 12 and 13) of
LTE (LTE-A) and proposed 5th generation(5G) wireless
networks focuses on the key parameter of higher system
spectral efficiency to support simultaneous users with high
peak bit rate. Inter Channel Interference (ICI) is the result of
dense channel assignment in multi-layered network which
causes drastic degradation in channel throughput. Being the
most urgent need, enhanced ICI coordination (eICIC) methods
encourage researchers to meet new technical challenges. This
paper emphasis on frequency- time coordination based ICI
avoidance methods for downlink transmission i.e., cross layer
interference between femtocell base stations (HeNB) to
Macrocell base station (MeNB). We present other interference
coordination methods for understanding of multifaceted views
of researchers. At the end of the paper performance parameter
matrix for ICIC methods is described.
Index Terms— LTE-A, Coordinated ICIC methods, Frequency
Reuse, Time scheduling
I. INTRODUCTION
As a result of the outburst in demand for wireless
applications in recent years and the prediction of further
rapid growth of wireless traffic, there exists a thriving need
for advanced technologies with higher throughput and
performance. The requirement of achieving highest spectral
efficiency and increase in node density is emergent to
increasing system capacity and maximizing throughput for
demanding customer applications. Third Generation
Partnership Program (3GPP) standard put forward the Long
Term Evolution (LTE) standard in Release 8(Rel-8) and
LTE- Advanced(LTE-A) in Release 10 (Rel.10) to meet the
requirements of highest data rates equal to 100Mbps to
978-1-4673-8286-1/16 $31.00 © 2016 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/IACC.2016.128
Computing
on Advanced
Conference
Computing
Dr. Akshay Malhotra
Deputy Director
Symbiosis International University
Symbiosis Institute of Technology
Pune, India
Akshay9864@yahoo.com
1Gbps set by the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) which defined Fourth Generation (4G)
systems[Agilent, 2011]. Novel approaches are under
consideration for LTE-A, Beyond 4G (B4G) and 5G
networks. Recent wireless networks under research should
support elevated number of simultaneous active devices,
increased system spectral efficiency, high peak bit rates in
large coverage area, lower delay, lower infrastructure costs
and low battery consumption.
In dense mobile broadband data subscriber environments
the performance of the LTE network reduces significantly.
The expansion of macro-network by addition of more macro
base stations (MeNB) is essential in such situations.
However, finding new space at crowded city centers would
be difficult as well as expensive. Dense deployment of
MeNB may cause mobility issues and hence increase
computational as well as economic burden on the network.
The low power transmitting base stations with small
coverage area, called Picocell, Femtocell and Relay Nodes
(RN) are overlaid along with MeNB as a solution to above
said problems [Wannstrom, 2013]. Macrocells and Picocells
are designed for outdoor coverage to support large and
comparatively low distances respectively. Femto access-
points or Femtocell Base Station (FBS) or Home evolved
NodeB (HeNB), are plug and play type base stations, which
lack backhaul connectivity with MeNB. They are deployed
in homes or offices to cover a very small area of few meters
and transmit less than 100mW power. In an area where
indoor coverage is poor or unavailable, HeNB connects
subscribers to service providers’ networks via broadband
backhaul and provides a cost effective solution for improved
coverage. A HeNB can be configured to provide open access
to all subscribers, known as Open-subscriber-group (OSG)
femto-BS. A femto-BS may also restrict its access to its
subscribed users, called Closed Subscriber Group (CSG)
femto-BS[H. Ko and Yu Wei, 2011]. The relay node acts as
a repeater for areas where it is difficult to provide coverage
due to their geographical conditions. The interference caused
by RN is not discussed in this paper.
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Fig. 1. ICI scenarios in HetNet
A multilayered network that encompasses macro cells
and comparatively large number of low-power nodes, where
some may be configured with restricted access and some
may lack wired backhaul, is referred to as a heterogeneous
network or a HetNet [Damnjanovic et al., 2011]. The radio
interface of LTE network operates in a cognitive
environment. The spectrum unused by MeNB sensed and
can be utilized by HeNB to improve spectrum efficiency.
This demands very efficient and quick sensing algorithm at
HeNB. MeNB act as a primary node while HeNBs operate as
secondary nodes (SCi). The LTE standard is defined for
frequency reuse ratio equal to one (FR1) where all the cells
in the network communicate using same frequency channels.
FR1 maximizes spectrum efficiency but introduces high
interference when neighbouring cells transmit same
channels. This is known as Inter Channel or Inter Cell
Interference (ICI).
The effects of ICI are prominent at the cell edges where it
is most likely that a neighbouring cell schedules to transmit
the same resource block at the same time and causes high
interference which decreases the system throughput or even
causes high call drops in worst case scenario. Traffic channel
can sustain up to 10% of drop rate in low SINR environment
but control channels cannot. Neighbour interference can
result in radio link failures at cell edge [Wannstrom, 2013].
Heterogeneous networks build co-existence of a macro base
station with many FBS supported in cognitive environment.
Inter Cell Interference (ICI) caused in such layered network
architecture can be explained via three scenarios. (a) Femto
cell station interfering Macro eNB to Macrocell user
downlink transmission (b) Macrocell user equipment
transmission interfering reception of FBS in uplink (c)
Transmission or reception of one FBS to its receiver
interfered by other FBS, which could be either uplink or
downlink.
The interference due to multiple layers of heterogeneous
network can be broadly thought as either cross-tier or co-tier
interference. Cross tier interference is caused due to RB
transmission on same frequency by MeNB and nearby
HeNB. Co tier interference is generated between cells of
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similar size i.e MeNB to MeNB or HeNB to HeNB. This
interference will introduce errors and sometimes data packet
loss and hence higher Bit Error Rate (BER) and link failure
leading to call drops. It may lead to delays in connection and
transmission and hence reduction in Quality of Service
(QoS). There is degradation in system utilization and
throughput. The latency and chirping effects in broadband
applications are intolerable for subscribers and hence will
severely cause revenue as well as subscription loss for the
wireless service provider. The paper describes the basic
methods of ICIC described in the earlier releases of LTE in
brief and diverse enhancements towards eICIC methods. The
eICIC method could be a system centric or user centric
solution. System centric methods optimize system QoS
parameters and enhance overall performance of the system
and do not guarantee fairness between individual users.
User-centric approach maximises average utility of the
system which represents user’s satisfaction for services.
According to user application requirements, resources are
allotted to prevent excess allocation. This guarantees user
fairness. The Femtocell dense environment is more
susceptible to ICI and hence sought for effective radio
resource management scheme for each Femtocell. Every
Femtocell should be able to take ‘autonomous’ decisions
regarding unused spectrum of serving MeNB and thus ICI is
mitigated. It is highly probable that, in the worst fading
conditions autonomous decisions are false and increase
interference. Distributed channel sensing helps to mitigate
interference in such situations. The paper classifies eICIC
methods in three categories, namely frequency domain, time
domain and coding based solutions. It also briefs about other
methods like the usage of smart antenna, polarization and
other techniques to present a complete scenario of solution.
The studies in this context consider assessment of various
parameters like Bit Error Rate (BER), peak data rates,
latency, spectral efficiency etc. to judge the performance
proposed ICIC methods.
II. FREQUENCY COORDINATED ICIC METHODS
The concept of frequency reuse has been implemented
since 2G wireless network for improved system capacity.
Rappaport [2009], discusses occurrence of two major
interferences due to frequency reuse. Inter channel
interference and adjacent channel interference. For wireless
networks till 3G, the concept of microcell with small cell
size and low power and maintaining enough distance
between co channel cells were useful solutions for
elimination of co channel interference. Use of non-
contiguous band for channel assignment solves the problem
of adjacent channel interference to a large extent [Rappaport,
2009]. The CDMA based 3G network uses frequency reuse
of factor 1 and tries to avoid interference by use of unique
orthogonal code for each channel. The simple solutions are
effective in single layered networks with absence of
overlapping cells and merely useful for higher generations of
wireless network.
 The LTE network is different from earlier generations
because it supports multilayered cell structure with multiple
overlaps of microcells, picocells and femto cells and builds a
heterogeneous environment. The channels, called component
carriers (CCs) are Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiplexed (OFDM) to increase spectral efficiency. The
transmission is in the form of Resource Block (RB), made up
of a time slot on an orthogonal subcarrier. The
heterogeneous network raises a severe problem of Inter Cell
or Channel Interference due to overlapping of cells. The
very initial 3GPP Technical Report, Rel. 9 published in
2010, recommended traditional frequency reuse method with
fixed channel allocation for different layers of heterogeneous
network. This approach will reduce spectrum efficiency and
hence the trunking capabilities of the network. However,
advance releases LTE suggest cognitive radio environment,
where small sized cells like HeNB are supported by
opportunistic spectrum allocation and MeNBs act as primary
base stations for resource allocation to licensed users. Such
opportunistic allocation of channels obviously improves
spectral efficiency but worsens ICI scenario as the spectrum
allocation to secondary cells depends on detection of unused
spectrum. This demands coordinated approach among
MeNB and HeNB for channel allocation.
For cognitive radio environment it is a must to have
accurate information of data usage of closed subscriber
group for on demand based frequency allocation. Han Ko
and Wei [2011] proposed that based on weighted data rate, Fig. 2. (a) Reuse -1 for cell center (b) PFR for cell center [Hamza,
2013]
incentives can be included for CSG which allow open access
of spectrum to general (open) subscribers. Hamza et al. Considering Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple
[2013] presented coordinated based interference avoidance Access (OFDMA) as the accepted air interface standard of
schemes for OFDMA based network. He suggested LTE-A and next generation, Kim et al. [2013] recommended
conventional frequency reuse methods with reuse-1 as that OFDMA sub channels, both dedicated and shared
traditional CDMA network or reuse-3 where equal but channels, can be allocated within femto cells independently
orthogonal subbands are allocated to adjacent sectors. for maximization of sum utility of resource channels which
Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) can be used to gives sub optimal results. Wei-dong et al. [2012] proposed
overcome disadvantages like increased interference at cell that instead of independent distribution, subchannel
edges and decreased trunking capacity of the traditional allocation could be based on Reference Signal Received
schemes. In FFR, cell edge users are supported by major sub Power (RSRP) algorithm. In RSPS, initially optional
group and minor sub group is used for coverage of cell- Fractional Frequency reuse (FFR) schemes satisfying the
center users. FFR can be further bifurcated into Partial outage constraints is adaptively selected and then
Frequency Reuse (PFR), Soft Frequency Reuse (SFR) and considering the macro cell spectral efficiency, the optimal
Intelligent Frequency Reuse (IFR). These derivatives of FFR FFR scheme is selected from the optional FFR schemes.
offers changes in transmission power in frequency sub Wanget al. [2014] suggested a two-level resource allocation
groups for reduction in interference as shown in figure 2. It is scheme implemented in both radio resource management
evident that the regular cell size which is assumed is a non- controller and femtocell base stations, based on the
real situation. Various frequency reuse based static ICIC maximization of the number of guaranteed users. Radio
methods introduce constraints like size of different cells, Resource Management (RRM) will assign a set of
effect of power level allocation for different users, number of subchannels to Femto Base Station (FBS) and transmits that
user groups etc. It is concluded that frequency reuse based information to all FBS using signaling. FBS will assign
static schemes are simpler. These techniques are suitable for subchannels on demand immediately and saves backhaul
networks with even distribution of loads. For unevenly delay. Jacob and Madhukumar [2014] proposed a scheme
distributed load, which is more likely, the cell coordination where two independent information channels occupying the
based approach i.e dynamic resource allocation with high same frequency band can be transmitted over a single link.
level of coordination is required. This is possible by using right hand circular polarization

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(RHCP) at femtocell network and left hand circular
polarization (LHCP) at macrocell network.
III. TIME COORDINATED ICIC METHODS
Earlier frequency based schemes support simultaneous
transmission from MeNB and multiple HeNB using
frequency reuse or different subchannel allocation to MeNB
and HeNB. The ICI can be avoided by using time domain
separation. Use of same subchannels on different time slots
will increase system capacity and raise demand of
coordinated approach between HeNBs and MeNB. Erik D.
[2011] on LTE mentioned that for frequency reuse 1 based
network , ICIC method will not significantly increase in
Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) for cell edge users. The
relationship between SIR and data rates is also nonlinear and
at higher SIR there is small increase in data rate\MHz. The
system performance especially for cell edge users can only
improve through time or frequency resource coordination
and scheduling among neighbouring cells. The X2 signalling
interface is defined under radio specifications for exchange
of scheduling information between neighbouring cells.
Huang and Krishnamurthy [2011] presented cognitive
femtocell environment where femtocells compete for
spectrum resources from MeNB. The interference is
restricted by using game theoretic approach based Resource
Block (RB) transmission in the downlink but in non-
cognitive environment. The results in the paper show
comparison of RB based algorithm with Best Response
algorithm which utilizes time slot based allocation. The
severity of ICI as a major constraint in maximization of
throughput is described and it is suggested that use of
distributed methods can improve system performance as
compared to centralized resource allocation methods [Trong-
Ngo, 2011]. B. Soret et al. [2012] suggested that the
interference can be eliminated by restricting transmission
activity on certain subframes called Almost Blank Subframe
(ABS). Although the restriction is possible on most of the
signaling channel but Common Reference Signaling (CRS)
is transmitted during ABS and interfere. The other limitation
is that perfect time synchronization is required among the
BSs which communicated using X2 interface. This approach
gave new direction towards coordinated transmission for
ICIC but it also demanded timing and computation
overheads. As discussed by Serrano and Giupponi [2012]
and denoted in 3GPP release 11[3GPP, LTE-A release],
there is absence of X2 interface between MeNBs and
HeNBs. In such a scenario, HeNB makes its independent
decision for transmission without any feedback from MeNB,
based on Partially Observable Markov Decision Process
(POMDP). POMDP constructs belief about state of
environment using Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio
(SINR) of HeNB and spatial interpolation. Md. Shipon Ali
[2015] suggested reduced power ABS based technique. The
macro cell doesn’t completely blank the power on eICIC
channels but these subframes are transmitted with reduced
power. This allows the macro station to communicate with
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cell-center users and completer utilization of entire subframe.
RP-ABS hence requires intelligent scheduling and
coordination among macro and secondary cells. The power
reduction strategy has to be developed and a small cell
scheduler is required to communicate to macrocell scheduler
for amount of power reduction on specified.
IV. OTHER ICIC TECHNIQUES
As new functional technologies like carrier aggregation,
Device to Device communication, Self-organized network,
use of MIMO transmission technique, etc. are proposed for
LTE-A enhancement and B4G network, novel approaches
towards ICIC techniques become essential. Boudreau et al
[2011] described modification in interference elimination
method by including spatial antenna techniques including
MIMO and SDMA and adaptive beam forming methods
which lead to overhead in terms of multiple antenna
installation complexity. It is anticipated that the performance
of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technique gives
best throughput for high SINR links while the performance
degrades drastically under inter-cell interference
environment. Joint processing using coordinated
beamforming and flexible power allocation leads to
Cooperative multi-point (CoMP) transmission [Hameed et
al., 2014]. The ICIC techniques mentioned above are based
on time, frequency, code or space division multiple access.
However, the effect of contiguous carrier aggregation is not
considered. The delays due to cognitive environment of
Femtocell network is a prime factor to be considered while
implementing the above mentioned techniques. Kpojime and
Safdar [2014] suggested self-updated adaptive algorithm for
transmission power and hence adaptive coverage radius of
the femto cell in dense femto cell environment where power
control is through pilot channel of FBS. Similar scheme for
power control using Equal Power Allocation (EPA) and
iterative water filling (IWF) was proposed by Torrea-
Duranet al. [2014]. Alsharifet al. [2014] suggested a Relay
network (RN) with low power transmission by BS which
leads towards green wireless network. Two types of RN
were suggested, simple relay and cooperative relay system.
Recent study by Chiun Wang and Chuang [2015] proposed a
method of selecting the locations for eNB deployment with
the minimum cost problem. The paper suggests steps for
adjusting eNB transmission power, with the consideration of
cell interference path loss, shadowing, multipath fading, and
environmental noise. Recent paper by Soret et al. [2015]
concludes that further research on scheduler and link
adaptation coordination between eNBs is required, providing
additional a priori knowledge to UEs for interference
cancellation, as well as exploiting recent advances in
receiver signal processing techniques.
V. PERFORMANCE PARAMETER MATRIX
Computer based simulation software supports multiple
and diverse experimental performance analysis of wireless
networks under different propagation conditions, traffic
patterns and network layouts with introduction to
randomness. The modelling helps to derive near realistic
parameters for the system but it is also understood that the
characteristics of any wireless network are highly random
and dynamic. The performance could be judged as per end
user perspective or operator perspective. The peak data rate
when there is packet loss in erroneous propagation
conditions demands for retransmission of packets and further
decreases effective data rates from higher layer protocols.
The user throughput is defined as the data rate experienced
after channel sharing above Medium Access Control (MAC)
layer. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) used
togather with IP traffic introduces slow start and hence
latency in the network. The packet switched data network
introduces latency which must be minimized for applications
like video streaming. Thus from users perspective, Quality
of Service (QoS) is judged based on criteria like data
throughput, latency and session set up time. The common
performance measure for a network operator is spectral
efficiency i.e throughput/MHz/cell.
VI. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
It is evident from the discussion that LTE and LTE-A
demonstrate a huge improvement in cell edge performance
and spectral efficiency from end user and network operator
perspective. In cognitive radio network channel sensing time
and probability of false detection of unoccupied spectrum
will worsen the system performance. As HeNB are for a
heterogeneous network with multiple HeNB the interference
coordination is more crucial because each femtocell edge
user may experience interference from MeNB as well as non
CSG users from nearby multiple HeNBs. The scenario
demands for measurement of Signal to Noise and
Interference (SINR). The absence of X2 interface for
coordination of HeNB due to lack of backhaul connectivity
to MeNB further complicates the interference management.
Cooperative time-frequency scheduling approach is
necessary for improved ICIC. However, Carrier Aggregation
(CA) based techniques for assignment of carrier component
to different layers combined with time scheduling demand
comprehensive research to support beyond 4G network
requirements.
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